In essence, we must have cyber sovereignty first."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia must have cyber sovereignty to control the flow of information, which includes radicalism, an Indonesian lawmaker has said.

"In essence, we must have cyber sovereignty first," member of the House of Representatives Commission I Arief Suditomo said here Friday (24/6).

Only after cyber sovereignty is upheld, could a variety of digital/electronic content that endanger the state be overcome through preventive steps, Suditomo, who is also a member of the working committee for information and electronic transaction bill, said.

Cyber sovereignty is important to anticipate and to minimize the negative impact of the internet, particularly the use of social media to launch radicalism and terrorism propaganda, Yuli Cendrasari, a lecturer at the school of communication of UPN Veteran University in Surabaya, said.

"In principle, all isms are easily spread through social media because the internet is able to reach the people at large, regardless of geographical constraint," he said.

Commenting on radical propaganda through cyber media, Yuli said it is very likely that the propaganda influences netizens.

Normally, individuals access the internet and browse information according to their thoughts and wishes. If the information browsed on the internet is similar to their thoughts it will strengthen their belief that the ism is correct, he said.

"So they will act in the same way as the information they have received," he said.

(Reported by Sigit Pinardi/S012/Uu.KR-BSR/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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