VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW IN DIGITAL COMMUNICATION ON INDONESIAN SOCIAL MEDIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21766593Keywords:
digital communication, social media, law violation, freedom of expression, digital literacyAbstract
The development of social media has expanded the communication space for Indonesian people, but at the same time has increased the risk of breaking the law in digital communication. This study aims to analyze the forms of legal violations in digital communication on social media in Indonesia, the factors that cause them, the problems in implementing regulations, and strategies for their prevention. The research uses a literature review method with qualitative, descriptive, and normative juridical approaches. Data was obtained from laws and regulations, Scopus-indexed journal articles, scientific books, court decisions, and reports from official institutions relevant to digital communication and social media law. Data were analyzed using content and thematic analyses by grouping the literature according to the form of violation, causative factors, impact, and handling mechanisms. The results of the study show that violations of the law in digital communication include defamation, insults, hate speech, the spread of false information, cyberbullying, digital threats, and the dissemination of personal data without consent. These violations are influenced by low levels of legal and digital literacy, weak emotional control, user anonymity, social conflicts, and the nature of social media, which accelerates the dissemination of information. The application of the law still faces difficulties in distinguishing between criticism, opinion, satire, public interest, insults, and hate speech. This study concludes that the handling of digital communication violations must be carried out in a contextual manner, taking into account the content of the message, the communicator's intention, the target, the extent of spread, the public interest, and the impact on the victim. Prevention needs to be done through strengthening digital literacy, platform moderation, mediation, victim recovery, and the proportionate application of criminal law as a last resort.
Downloads
References
Alamsyah, A., & Sagama, Y. (2024). Empowering Indonesian internet users: An approach to counter online toxicity and enhance digital well-being. Intelligent Systems with Applications, 22, Article 200394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswa.2024.200394
Anthonysamy, L., & Sivakumar, P. (2024). A new digital literacy framework to mitigate misinformation in social media infodemic. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, 73(6/7), 809–827. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-06-2022-0142
Bukhori, B., Nuriyyatiningrum, N. A. H., Zikrinawati, K., Liem, A., Wahib, A., & Darmu’in. (2024). Determinant factors of cyberbullying behaviour among Indonesian adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 29(1), Article 2295442. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2023.2295442
Carrera-Rivera, A., Ochoa, W., Larrinaga, F., & Lasa, G. (2022). How-to conduct a systematic literature review: A quick guide for computer science research. MethodsX, 9, Article 101895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2022.101895
Carson, A., & Gibbons, A. (2023). The big chill? How journalists and sources perceive and respond to fake news laws in Indonesia and Singapore. Journalism Studies, 24(14), 1819–1838. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2023.2192299
Fernando, Z. J., Pujiyono, Rozah, U., & Rochaeti, N. (2022). The freedom of expression in Indonesia. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1), Article 2103944. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2022.2103944
Iskandar, R., Maksum, A., & Marini, A. (2025). Digital citizenship literacy in Indonesia: The role of privacy awareness and social campaigns. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, Article 101697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101697
Manitra, R. R. M., Prabandari, A. P., Jibril, A. M., & Hossain, A. (2026). A proposal for decriminilisation of online defamation in Indonesia: Towards a human rights-based approach. Cogent Social Sciences, 12(1), Article 2613959. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2026.2613959
Margono, H., Saud, M., & Ashfaq, A. (2026). Dynamics of hate speech in social media: Insights from Indonesia. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, 75(5/6), 1784–1804. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-11-2023-0464
Morgan, H. (2022). Conducting a qualitative document analysis. The Qualitative Report, 27(1), 64–77. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2022.5044
Nugroho, A., & Chandrawulan, A. A. (2023). Research synthesis of cybercrime laws and COVID-19 in Indonesia: Lessons for developed and developing countries. Security Journal, 36(4), 651–670. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41284-022-00357-y
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., . . . Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, Article n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Prahassacitta, V., & Harkrisnowo, H. (2021). Criminal disinformation in relation to the freedom of expression in Indonesia: A critical study. Comparative Law Review, 27, 135–165. https://doi.org/10.12775/CLR.2021.005
Putri, D. K. (2023). Hate speech and the harm in Indonesian judicial decisions. Cogent Social Sciences, 9(2), Article 2274430. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2274430
Suseno, S., Ramli, A. M., Mayana, R. F., Safiranita, T., & Tiarma, B. A. N. (2025). Cybercrime in the new criminal code in Indonesia. Cogent Social Sciences, 11(1), Article 2439543. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2024.2439543
Republik Indonesia. (2008). Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 11 Tahun 2008 tentang Informasi dan Transaksi Elektronik. Lembaran Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 2008 Nomor 58.
Republik Indonesia. (2008). Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 40 Tahun 2008 tentang Penghapusan Diskriminasi Ras dan Etnis. Lembaran Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 2008 Nomor 170.
Republik Indonesia. (2016). Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 19 Tahun 2016 tentang Perubahan atas Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2008 tentang Informasi dan Transaksi Elektronik. Lembaran Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 2016 Nomor 251.
Republik Indonesia. (2022). Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 27 Tahun 2022 tentang Pelindungan Data Pribadi. Lembaran Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 2022 Nomor 196.
Republik Indonesia. (2023). Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 1 Tahun 2023 tentang Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana. Lembaran Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 2023 Nomor 1.
Republik Indonesia. (2024). Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 1 Tahun 2024 tentang Perubahan Kedua atas Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2008 tentang Informasi dan Transaksi Elektronik. Lembaran Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 2024 Nomor 1.
