PREVENTING SOCIAL MEDIA FROM BEING USED TO SPREAD RADICALISM by Fardah

Jakarta, May 31, 2018 (Antara) - In the era of information technology, terrorists have used the internet to conduct propaganda, recruitment, planning, and funding as well as to carry out terror activities.

         Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, is exposed to threats, as over 120 million Indonesians use the internet, and over 200 million Indonesians have mobile phones.

         One of the manifestations of cybercrimes is the misuse of internet, including social media, by terrorists, according to Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Commissioner General Suhardi Alius.

         In his speech during the 27th meeting of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held on May 14-18 in Vienna, Austria, Alius urged countries in the world to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism and highlight the dangers of internet abuse by terrorists.

         Comprehensive and holistic efforts through cooperation among all stakeholders in the country and international collaboration are the keys to overcoming the problem, he noted while outlining three steps to prevent the abuse of cyberspace.

         Firstly, protecting vulnerable groups of people, especially women and youth, from the influence of radical ideology spread over the internet.

         Secondly, countries must promote the values of tolerance, moderation, and peaceful culture as a counter-narrative to the radical ideology that has fostered violence and extremism.

         Thirdly, countries should continue to collaborate and strengthen partnerships with internet providers.

         There is also a need to instill a sense of shared responsibility to protect cyberspace from the dangers of internet abuse by terrorists.

         In Indonesia, radicalism is currently spreading on social media and not only in campuses, according to Research, Technology, and Higher Education Minister Mohamad Nasir.

         "The spread of radicalism is now not only in campuses but also directly targeting individuals through the means of social media," Nasir remarked here, Thursday.

         The ministry has strongly rejected radicalism in campuses.

         The BNPT has revealed that seven prominent campuses across the country -- the University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bogor Institute of Agriculture, University of Diponegoro, Surabaya Institute of Technology, University of Airlangga, and University of Brawijaya -- have been exposed to radicalism since 1983 or 35 years ago.

         At that time, the government had applied a program called Normalization of Campus Life to depoliticize campuses. Certain groups had filled the void with radicalism.

         "I have noticed that the seven campuses were not the only ones to have been exposed to radicalism. Its potential is huge," he pointed out.

         Last year, the ministry had declared its fight against radicalism in campuses and called to safeguard them.

         He urged university rectors to prevent the spread of radicalism in campuses.

         The minister also stated that stern sanctions must be imposed on civil servants involved in radicalism.

         He urged rectors to temporarily dismiss lecturers involved in the spread of radicalism.

         The ministry has continued to monitor the situation in campuses every month or every three months.

         He emphasized that every one indicated of spreading radicalism in campuses must be dismissed.

        "College is the main gateway to prevent radicalism. University is the center of science that rejects radicalism and intolerance," he stated.

           Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has reiterated that terrorism and radicalism are common enemies of the Indonesian people.

          "Let us together awaken the public that terrorism and radicalism have become our common enemies," the President noted on May 14, 2018.

          According to the president, the community along with law enforcement officers must jointly protect the society, so that citizens are not influenced by radicalism.

            As part of the preventive measures against radicalism, the Ministry of Communications and Informatics planned to block 19.5 thousand sites with contents of radicalism, terrorism, and extremism that potentially divide the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

        Communications and Informatics Minister Rudiantara while speaking in Gunung Kidul district, Yogyakarta, said on May 21, said that his ministry has blocked more than 2.5 thousand sites with radical contents.

         "We will soon block 19.5 thousand radical sites. Currently, we are still exploring various sites and reviewing reports from the community," he noted.

            Many sites on Instagram and Youtube were blocked. Based on the screening results, the total of 19.5 thousand sites are ones that could potentially further spread radicalism, terrorism, and extremism.

            He appreciated the action of people who reported the sites containing radicalism and terrorism. Not only the ministry and police but also the parties have to work together.

        "The faster the sites get blocked the better," he said, adding that if the ministry mistakenly blocked non-radical websites, it would apologize and end the blockade.  ***2***
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 31-05-2018