Internet Info - Around the World - Yahoo! News UK
Around The World – Yahoo! News UK
A celebrity sex video scandal that has broken out in Indonesia is being used to revive a once-stalled debate this mainly-Muslim country about imposing controls on ‘suspect’ parts of the Internet.
Indonesia has been titillated and scandalised in equal measure by the appearance on the Internet of two explicit clips apparently showing a popular local rock singer having sex with two models and television presenters.
The stars have claimed they are being defamed but have not publicly denied it is them in the videos, amid a police probe that could see them jailed for lengthy sentences under a controversial anti-porn law passed in 2008.
Communication and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring, from the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party, has condemned the celebrities and used the scandal to revive his ambitions to restrict access to morally suspect sites on the Internet, after an earlier plan was shelved due to widespread opposition.
On Wednesday, he told reporters the decree would be dusted off and issued soon, after receiving the backing of lawmakers in the parliament’s Commission I, which is in charge of communications and information affairs.
The decree would make it illegal to distribute or provide access to pornography or gambling services on the Internet, as well as anything that spreads religious hatred or threats, and any news deemed “misleading”.
Web content which “humiliates the physical condition or abilities… of other parties” also could be blocked, along with anything which violated privacy by, for example, disclosing someone’s educational background.
Sembiring said he would also implement a request from the commission to require all Internet cafes and schools to install software to filter websites with content listed as negative.
“This is very good… we will implement it soon,” he said.
Critics say the measures have not been thought through and represent a throwback to the era of information control under the dictatorship of military strongman general Suharto, who was ousted in 1998.
What do you think? Does the scandal justify new Internet controls?
In this blog, reporters and editors for global news wire AFP blog about the news they report and the challenges they face covering events from Baghdad to Beijing, the White House to Darfur. Stephen Coates is AFP Jakarta news editor.
does it justify internet controls? does it hell, if a parent doesnt want their kids to see something on the internet then be a decent parent and check what they are doing once in a while, or use one of the many inbuilt controls for the internet, atleast check their history, and if an adult doesnt want to see things they dont want to see, then dont look. if you give the state power to say you can and cannot look at certain things on the internet soon it wont only be “obscene material” that you cant see, you can prettymuch shape peoples perception with the internet, imagine in the UK if we had loads of censors, all the dirt the govt or councils get up to, IE expenses scandals would be much less likely to reach the public.
Which is more offensive someone showing a video of consensual sex on the internet or executing people, repression, removal of free speech, injustice and corruption? Clearly its sex videos for Minister Tifatul Sembiring….
Indonesia is a backwards Country.
So Indoniesia joins the “ban” Club just like here in “Modern” Dubai that blocks hundreds of sites ,from porn, to sites about the government, mind you they also censor the local papers as well
Absolutely right. Why should people be constantly exposed to rubbish. People don't want constant negative influences and there is so much out there on the internet. There is no way a parent can police their childs internet access at school or internet cafe. Always two sides to every story; there is a side to freedom that responsibility must be exercised – both ways. Indonesia doesn't want a society that is saturated with sexual scandal and unnecessary sordid mongering.
So what if the government block the internet?..what about the children!!
wordtonicky: Really, schools in this country do police internet usage, internet cafes shouldn’t allow minor access and parents can install programs that will prevent access to porn. Don’t wont to see it don’t search for it and be a bit less gullible about spam.
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If you cant be responsible for teaching your kids the rights and wrongs who is? The government!?!?
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Censoreship is wrong!
I am totally opposed to censorship (internet or otherwise) – Indonesia is pretty backward, as far as countries go but Lot's of 'Moaning-Minnies' complain about the internet here in the UK and campaign to ban everything they find distasteful !!!! – Shame on them!
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Censorship drives things underground and that's far more dangerous!
Wordtonicky – generally, the only people that are exposed to rubbish on the internet are those that go looking for it.
Indonesia doesn't want a society that is saturated with sexual scandal and unnecessary sordid mongering? Are you confusing the rulers with the ruled? What happens with many people that are prevented from doing something? They go and look for it to see what they're missing.
Although it does little for me, (I'm getting WAY too old), in principle, what is wrong with porn as long as it doesn't hurt anyone? I know it has its negative aspects but probably no more than most recreational activities considered acceptable in this country.
Matchwalk: As long as it is consensual then nothing.
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