The Government were temporarily confining public access to several features on social media (credits:tribune)

Indonesia government briefly limits public to access social media and messaging apps due to Jakarta riot

Hashtags #WhatsAppdown and #Instagramdown were currently trending in Indonesia on Wednesday, after Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto released an announcement at a press conference.  

The Government were temporarily confining public access to several features on social media, slowing down the uploading and downloading of both videos and photographs on social media platform and messaging apps to avoid the spreading of provocation and false news or HOAX to the wider audiences.  

The Minister of Communication and Information Rudiantara said that the spreading of false news (modus operandi) is published via social media like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The posts can be in the form of videos, memes and photos, then they are screen-captured and forwarded through messaging apps like WhatsApp. 

 He added that the spreading of fake news, videos and photos triggered an "emotional response”. Rudiantara mentioned that public would have a slowdown if they wanted to download or upload videos and photos. 

 The ministry also warned the public that sharing videos containing violence, provocative agitation and hateful messages based on ethnicity, religion, race and societal groups was strictly prohibited by the Electronic Information and Transactions Law. 

On Wednesday the supporters of presidential candidate and incumbent contender, Prabowo Subianto, demonstrated on Jalan Thamrin. They claimed if the election was fraud and invalid. They opposed to Joko Widodo “Jokowi” winning in 2019 presidential election.

 Later, President Jokowi said that Jakarta was now under control. He emphasised that government will not tolerate anyone for disrupting the security or unity of the country or those who disrupt the democratic process