TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) chairman Suwarjono has urged Tempo to file a police report regarding the hacking of Tempo’s website. According to Suwarjono, the hacking was a threat against press freedom in disseminating information.
“I urge Tempo to file a police report so that the Police’s cybercrime unit will launch an investigation [into the hacking] and expose the hackers. Otherwise, they will do the same to other media. This is dangerous,” Suwarjono told Tempo yesterday, May 12.
In addition, AJI demanded police to expose the motive behind the hacking.
Read: Tempo.co Website Hacked, AMSI Urges Police to Catch Perpetrator
“AJI demands police to expose the case involving hackers and irresponsible people since this is dangerous for press freedom that we are fighting for,” Suwarjono added.
AJI explained that threats against press freedom were not only posed by state institutions, law enforcers, and the general public, but also those who know how to shut down online media.
“It’s a violation against the press law. It’s also a crime since what they did was hacking websites and preventing people from accessing [the websites],” Suwarjono added.
AJI called on individuals who are not pleased with news published by media to send a protest note through the right channel as governed by the press law.
Earlier yesterday, Tempo.co was hacked following a two-year prison sentence handed down to inactive Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok for being guilty of committing a religious blasphemy. The website had been unable to publish article since Wednesday night until Thursday morning.
DESTRIANITA
