INDONESIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Indonesia is a multiparty ...

Internet Freedom
INDONESIA 15
The government attempted to restrict access to the Internet via the 2008
Information and Electronic Transaction Law. The law, meant to combat online
crime, pornography, gambling, blackmail, lies, threats, and racism, prohibits
citizens from distributing in electronic format any information that is defamatory,
and punishes transgressors with a maximum of six years in prison or a fine of one
billion rupiah ($110,000) or both.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology requests Internet
service providers (ISPs) block access to pornographic Web sites and other
offensive content. On September 27, the minister announced restrictions on over
900 Web sites deemed to be connected to violent extremist groups. The ministry
did not have any internal mechanisms to block the Web sites in question.
Enforcement of these restrictions depended upon individual ISPs, and a failure to
enforce these restrictions could result in the revocation of an ISP’s license.
Academic Freedom and Cultural Events
The government generally did not restrict academic freedom; however, there were
continued restrictions on cultural events.
In 2008 the DPR passed an anti-pornography bill. Critics considered its definition
of pornography too broad and feared it could be used to justify attacks on artistic,
religious, and cultural freedom. The bill includes provisions that allow citizens to
“supervise” adherence to the law. In March 2010 the Constitutional Court ruled
the anti-pornography bill constitutional and not in violatation of the freedom of
religion and expression provisions of the constitution.
During the year the government-supervised Film Censorship Institute continued to
censor domestic and imported movies for content deemed pornographic,
religiously offensive, or otherwise offensive. As recently as 2009, the Film
Censorship Institute censored politically sensitive films. Societal pressure led to
self-censorship by some media outlets.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Freedom of Assembly
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011
United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor