Online Hate Speech Can Lead to Genocide: Rights Group
Jakarta. The chairman of Jakarta-based human rights group Setara Institute, Hendardi, has urged police to step up their efforts to root out groups that spread hate speech online against certain ethnic and religious groups, arguing they may provoke future acts of genocide or ethnic cleansing.
Police recently arrested three members of a Facebook group, called Saracen, whose posts-for-hire police say pose serious threats to Indonesian national unity.
The police are charging the men with violating the country's electronic information and transactions (ITE) law — in practice the country's wide-ranging, and some say all encompassing, Internet law. If convicted, the three could face prison terms ranging from four to 10 years.
"What Saracen has apparently been doing is a serious crime. Hate speech can provoke social tensions, conflicts, discrimination, xenophobia and violence. The group reportedly has connections to political consultants. If this continues unchecked, it could lead to genocide," Hendardi said in Jakarta on Monday (28/08).
Hendardi said the rounding up of the group by the police's Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) suggests that rising social tension in the country over the past year, especially in Jakarta, has been the product of a deliberate set-up.
"Social situations can be manipulated. Groups that want to seize power by all means will use syndicates like Saracen to spread hate," Hendardi said.
The police, according to Hendardi, should continue investigating the issue to stop the spread of hate speech on social media.
"This is not just to make sure the 2018 general election and 2019 presidential election go ahead without a hitch," Hendardi said. "The goal should be to prevent the spread of hate, discrimination and violence, and create a more tolerant public space."
Tags: Keywords: