Indonesia to Intensify Cyber Police Activity Next Year, Says Senior Minister

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Indonesian government has decided to step up its cyber police activities in a bid to counter criminal activity in cyberspace, a senior minister said.

"Attacks in the digital world is a dilemma, but we have decided to tighten up cyber police activity,” said Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD as reported by Kompas.id on Saturday, December 26.

“In 2021 stern cyber police activity will be activated because being too lenient is also dangerous,” Mahfud said.

Also read: Indonesian Police Arrest 5 Nigerians and Indonesians For Online Scam 

Mahfud said the cyber police activity will include counter-narrative activity. If a hoax appears and it goes viral on social media then the government will counter the activity vastly.

Meanwhile, enforcement activities will be taken by the authority against any criminal offense in cyberspace according to the law.

Nowadays it is very easy for the cyber police to track down any terrible fake news following a report from the public.

“Within a few minutes once the police knew who got it and the location of the source, then they will find and arrest the perpetrators,” Mahfud said.

Also read: Cyber Crime Attempts in Indonesia Surge during Coronavirus Pandemic

The senior minister said that the Indonesian cyber police can quickly detect any cyber violations, which were done by the perpetrators.

The government has also prepared punishments that can be implemented by law enforcement officials.

He said the enforcement activities will include an insult that would be in the interests of the public.

So far, he added, the Indonesian police have been able to arrest those who spread falsehoods that related to the interests of the people.

“This seems to have started heating up, and we will strengthen the measures against them to maintain public order,” said Mahfud MD.

(Writer: Sania Mashabi | Editor: Bayu Galih)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/12/26/10244931/mahfud-md-tahun-2021-polisi-siber-akan-sungguh-sungguh-diaktifkan?page=all#page2.