The government is asked to consider carefully if it intends to block social media Facebook and Youtube.

The reason is, it is very likely that the blocking of the two social media (medsos) that are widely used in Indonesia will face rejection from the wider community.

"It really needs to be thought out carefully, considering the good, the bad, the positive, the negative, and the pros and cons," said Idil Akbar, a political and government observer from Padjadjaran University to SINDOnews, Saturday, July 15 2017.

Nevertheless, said Idil, the emphasis of this issue is on how to find ways to control the "traffic" of content on Facebook and Youtube in response to concerns about the spread of ideas that are contrary to Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

Idil does not agree if there is a perceived threat to block Facebook and Youtube because the government is panicking. He believes the government has certain considerations. (Also read: Kemenkominfo's plan to close social media is considered excessive)

He believes the government has sufficient resources to overcome concerns about the spread of ideas that are considered contrary to Pancasila.

"That is what needs to be optimally empowered. I think cyber intelligence is also important to prevent information that is suspected of being contrary to Pancasila and so on," he said.

However, Idil emphasized that the government must really do a lot of consideration before blocking social media. According to him, it is not impossible that there will be a wave of protests against the closure of social media which will actually inconvenience the government.

"Closing even though it is a solution, it is temporary because it will most likely be opposed by the public. Don't forget that Indonesia is one of the most users (Facebook and Youtube-ed) in the world," he said.

As is known, the government threatens to block social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube if it does not close accounts charged with radicalism.

Currently the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemkominfo) has asked internet service providers (ISPs) to cut off access to Telegram's 11 domain name systems (DNS).

“Our request on the platform to close accounts containing radicalism, during 2016 to 2017 was only 50% fulfilled. This is very disappointing," said Minister of Communication and Information Rudiantara after an anti-radicalism event at Padjadjaran University, Bandung, Friday, July 14 2017.

Rudiantara requested that the social media meet the Indonesian government's request. If not, it will consider closing the platform.
He explained that the platform was reluctant to close the account because in its home country it had to go through a court process. “But they are here because of business. The ads are also from here. Therefore, it is necessary to comply with the existing regulations here," he explained.

The ministry, continued Rudiantara, has made various efforts to prevent the spread of radicalism. The way to do this is by closing the site and blocking accounts on social media. In blocking accounts on social media, it is necessary to involve the platform.

"We have to move fast, we don't want the public to be exposed to radical content," he said.

Rudi apologized if later his party was forced to close social media. The Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Menristekdikti) Mohamad Nasir asked the chancellors to pay attention to the activities of each campus component.