28-6-2024 (JAKARTA) In a shift from its earlier stance, the Indonesian government has scrapped its plan to block the social media platform X under policies concerning pornographic content, instead opting to employ firewalls and a removal mechanism.
At a press conference on Thursday, Usman Kansong, the director general of public information and communications at the Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Information, announced that the platform X will not be banned. However, to prevent the display of pornographic content, the country will implement firewalls and a content removal mechanism.
Usman elaborated that the removal mechanism entails deleting pornographic content from social media platforms, while the firewall system is designed to block access to undesirable content.
“We will not block X in Indonesia,” Usman stated, marking a departure from the government’s previous position that it would restrict access to the platform if it continued to permit such content.
The decision to adopt a more targeted approach, rather than an outright ban, reflects a nuanced stance on regulating online content in the digital age. By employing filtering mechanisms, the Indonesian authorities aim to strike a balance between upholding societal norms and preserving access to information and communication channels.
The announcement comes as a relief to X users in the archipelago nation, who had faced the prospect of being cut off from the popular social media platform. The government’s initial threat to block the platform had drawn criticism from digital rights advocates and raised concerns about potential infringements on free speech.
However, the implementation of firewalls and content removal mechanisms also raises questions about the practicalities of enforcement and the potential for overreach or unintended consequences. Civil society groups and industry stakeholders are likely to closely monitor the rollout of these measures to ensure transparency and accountability.
