Indonesia’s parliament is proposing amendments to its broadcast law that would ban investigative journalism and LGBT content, sparking criticism from civil society groups and filmmakers over potential restrictions to press freedom and creative expression.
Discussions on changes to the 2002 broadcast law began in 2020, but details in the latest revisions have raised concerns. The Indonesian Press Council argues that the amendments would undermine media independence. “The impact on press freedom is very serious,” said Arif Zulkifli, head of the council’s law and legislation division. “Indonesia’s press law says there must not be any censorship or banning of journalism. So this is contradictory.”
Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi told Reuters that the government has not yet received the draft bill, emphasizing that the revisions must not muzzle media freedom.
Journalism and civil society organizations warn that the proposed curbs on journalism in the world’s third-largest democracy would harm freedom of expression and the liberties gained since Indonesia emerged from decades of authoritarian rule in 1998.
The bill does not detail the proposed ban on investigative reporting, leading to concerns about censorship. “It will mean that we as journalists will no longer be able to reveal important stories, such as on corruption, nepotism, and environmental crimes,” said Bayu Wardhana, head of the Association of Independent Journalists.
“If the bill is implemented, there will be no press independence,” warned Ninik Rahayu, chair of Indonesia’s Press Council, adding that the council had not been consulted during the bill’s drafting process.
The bill also seeks to ban content displaying violence, mysticism, LGBT themes, or “negative behavior or lifestyles that potentially harm the public.” Prominent filmmaker Joko Anwar criticized the proposal as “dangerous” and “impossible” to implement. “The ban on such content not only impedes the creativity of the creative industry and freedom of the press but also undermines people’s capacity to filter what they watch,” he said.
Legislators from Commission 1, which is overseeing the bill, stressed that the revisions are in the initial phases and subject to change. “We don’t want to give the impression that we are homophobic, and monitor excessively,” said Nico Siahaan, a Commission 1 member, adding that the law would be strongly debated.
Homosexuality is a taboo subject in Indonesia, one of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nations, where it is illegal in the sharia-ruled Aceh province. If passed, the changes would apply to all content broadcast in Indonesia, including online streaming platforms.
The Indonesian parliament has been deliberating a series of controversial legal revisions in recent weeks, including changes to the constitutional court law that would allow the government greater power to remove sitting judges.
