Cyberattack on Critical Media Narasi a Serious Human Rights Violation: KKJ

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Committee for Journalists’ Safety (KKJ) in a statement on Monday asserted that the series of hacking attempts on dozens of Narasi journalists is a serious threat to press freedom. The watchdog argues that this exposes the failure of law enforcers in tracking down the perpetrators of the cyberattack as an attempt to silence journalists. 

“These attacks always happen when journalists or a media agency strongly criticizes the acts or policies of those in power,” said KKJ coordinator Erick Tanjung in a written statement on Monday, September 26.

22 editorial and former employees for the media known for its critical journalistic products Narasi became victims of a digital attack launched on a massive scale. The attacks tried to take control of multiple social media accounts. 

He insists that if this situation is not handled swiftly, such attacks will only deter journalists and media from publishing critical or sensitive news stories. Crucially, these hackings will diminish public access to important information.

Erick made it clear that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects the right to free speech and information. As well as the Indonesian Constitution under Law No.39/1999 overseeing human rights. 

The recurring attacks against civil society groups and journalists tend to prove that these incidents can be classified as severe human rights violations. 

“The government must openly admit and acknowledge that such attacks, threats, harassment, and intimidation against civil society groups, including journalists and mass media, are serious human rights violations,” said Erick.

M ROSSENO AJI

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