Cancel Culture: Islamic Law and Public Policy Challenges in the Digital Age
Authors: Fikri Muhammad 
Published: April 2024

This paper talks about cancel culture and Islamic law and public policy challenges in the digital age. This research uses qualitative methods and legal document studies by collecting and analyzing relevant documents, such as legal regulations, public policies, or legal statements related to cancel culture. The theory used is the legal system of Lawrence Meir Friedman. The legal system talks about aspects of legal structure, legal substance, and legal culture. The results of this study revealed that cancel culture describes a social practice in which individuals are punished masse by netizens through virtual media for words and actions that are considered controversial. Here are some public figures from Indonesia who have experienced cancel culture such as Ahmad Dhani, Luna Maya, Gisel Anastasya, Rizki Billar, Tuan Guru Mizan Qudsiyah, and Panji Gumilang. By Islamic law, cancel culture causes reputational damage and violates constitutional rights so that it can sue those responsible for reputation restoration and losses suffered. As Islamic law and policy challenge, cancel culture requires affirmative policy by looking at the pressure of netizens and its viral power in building collaboration between governments, social media platforms, civil society, and individuals to protect differences and free speech.

Purpose: This paper talks about cancel culture: Islamic law and public policy challenges in the digital age. As a policy challenge, cancel culture requires affirmative policy by looking at the pressure of netizens and its viral power in building collaboration between governments, social media platforms, civil society, and individuals to protect differences and free speech.

Methods: This research uses qualitative methods and legal document studies by collecting and analyzing relevant documents, such as legal regulations, public policies, or legal statements related to cancel culture.

Results and Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that cancel culture describes a social practice in which individuals are punished masse by netizens through virtual media for words and actions that are considered controversial.

Research implications: The implications of this research are as follows: implications to the understanding of Islamic law and public policy challenges, factors influencing the emergence of cancel culture, legal implications, and their impact on society, and all of these are analyzed from a legal and social perspective. Islamic law and policy development: this research can provide insight for policymaking, law enforcement, and decision-making in formulating relevant policies and regulations related to cancel culture.

Originality/value: The Indonesian government must be encouraged to create regulations through Islamic law and social analysis, this research can help identify how culture can affect individual rights, including freedom of speech, privacy rights, and reputation. With a deeper understanding of the interaction between culture and individual rights, appropriate protective measures can be taken to prevent abuse and protect the inherent rights of individuals.