The issue of the blocking and closing of Facebook in Indonesia continues to roll. Even the discourse of closing Facebook and social networks is not the first time. It was the same in years past.

With the issue re-emerging, the Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo), Rudiantara, was afflicted with the question "do you dare to block Facebook in Indonesia?". This follows the incident of the theft of 1 million user data in the country by the analyst firm Cambridge Analytica, which was announced on April 5, 2018.

It has been a week since the announcement, Rudiantara has twice sent a warning letter (SP) to Facebook. However, there is no sign that the social networking giant will be blocked. (Also read: This is Facebook's reply letter after receiving the second warning from Kominfo) Rudiantara denied that it was said to be "soft" to Facebook.

He claimed that Indonesia was considered the most assertive by his fellow Southeast Asians. “Indonesia is considered to be bold and assertive. Which other ASEAN country dares to close the international Electronic System Operator (PSE)? Only Indonesia," he said. "We are the reference. Neighboring countries in ASEAN even sent a number of staff to see the system in Indonesia,” he added.

It is known that previously there were several PSEs that were blocked because they were considered to have violated the rules of the game in Indonesia. For example, Telegram, Tumblr, Vimeo, etc. Although he dared to block, Rudiantara did not want to be careless. According to him, there are certain conditions under which the government can immediately take blocking action, for example if there are indications of incitement between groups. "If there are indications that Facebook in Indonesia is being used for incitement, as happened in Myanmar, I have no qualms about blocking it," he said.

For the data theft case, Rudiantara said he was still waiting for the full audit results from Facebook. If there are results, then the government can measure the potential problems that arise and take further action. For now, in the First and Second Warning Letters given by Kominfo to Facebook, his party requested that potentially harmful third-party services be stopped. This is said to have been agreed by Facebook. Right now, it's already SP II. We wait, later after SP II it can be upgraded to temporary service termination if needed," he said.

Meanwhile, Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Bobby Adhityo Rizaldi, hopes that there is an immediate need for a solution regarding the data leak of Facebook users in Indonesia of more than one million users. According to Bobby, closing Facebook is not the solution to this problem. "Current challenges must be solved with modern solutions. Closing FB without having a solution will only cause unnecessary domestic noise," Bobby said in a public hearing (RDPU) between Commission I and Facebook Indonesia and Southeast Asia. at the DPR Building, Senayan.

Although Facebook has apologized for the misuse of data by an application developed by academics at Cambridge University, DR. Alexander Kogan. However, according to Bobby, there is no need to close Facebook because the use of Facebook by the Indonesian people has touched the Indonesian economy. "The use of the FB platform has touched the joints of the micro-enterprise economy in Indonesia, apart from only social media, it doesn't need to be closed," Bobby explained.

The Golkar Party politician advised the Indonesian government to make commercialization regulations and proper monitoring infrastructure in this regard. "The issue of FB is similar to online motorcycle taxis which have become a new economic media platform, which did not exist 10 years ago," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House of Representatives, Bambang Soesatyo, assessed that if Facebook in Indonesia was closed it would cause other problems. This he said, considering that Facebook has helped many Indonesian people. "The steps to close Facebook in my opinion are less creative. Because Facebook has benefits for the people, especially SMEs," said Bamsoet, the typical greeting for the chairman of the DPR.

The former chairman of Commission III also added that there must be other solutions and strict sanctions for Facebook. "There must be more creative ways other than closing Facebook, and strict sanctions must still be given," he said.