Jakarta, IO – Entering the cool-off period before voting day, the Jakarta Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) will carry out cyber patrols in collaboration with the Communications and Information Ministry (Kominfo) to ensure that no party is campaigning on social media, said the agency’s commissioner Quin Pegagan, per Kompas, Mon (12/4).
He said that if violation is found, Bawaslu would follow up and take appropriate action against the uploader. “The sanctions range from removing the content to issuing a letter of reprimand,” Quin said.
More severe punishments include imprisonment or fines. However, this can only be implemented if there is a court decision. “The violation of Article 492 of Law 7/2017 is up to one year’s jail,” he pointed out.
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However, Quin explained that old content republished during the cool-off period does not constitute a violation.
“If it is uploaded before the cool-off period, there is no problem. Because no one knows the algorithm. But on the 11th, 12th and 13th [of February], one must not campaign online anymore,” said Quin. (un)