Careful! WhatsApp users can be spied on by the state
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (RUU KKS) will be ratified immediately at the end of the 2022-2022 DPR term. This is feared to be a spy tool for internet users, including users of WhatsApp and other chat applications and social media.
This was said by Damar Juniarto, as Executive Director of SAFEnet who revealed several problem points from the PSC Bill. Where one of the points in the PSC Bill, through the National Cyber and Password Agency (BSSN) can threaten user privacy and freedom of expression on the internet.
The article referred to is Article 11 which explains about risk mitigation and responding to cyber threats. One of the cyber threats referred to in that article is content that contains negative elements as stated in paragraph 2d.
Now in detecting these cyber threats, here BSSN will continue to monitor the flow of internet data traffic in Indonesia. What is meant by internet traffic is of course in it there are conversation applications and other social media.
Can Harm Citizens’ Privacy
Damar said, this bill is very vulnerable to be used to conduct mass wiretapping. According to him, if the PSC Bill is passed, then BSSN can openly detect cyber threats that pass through internet traffic in Indonesia.
Then how can it be detected as early as possible if internet data traffic is closed. Of course, for this work, internet traffic must be opened.
This is what is known as mass wiretapping. Where all internet channels must be connected to the BSSN operation center. The article referred to by Damar is article 31 which reads:
(1) In the framework of carrying out Cyber Security and Resilience activities, each Cyber Security and Resilience center is obligated to establish a Cyber Security and Resilience operation center.
(2) The Cyber Security and Resilience operation center as referred to in paragraph (1) must be connected to the National Cyber Security and Resilience operation center.
(3) The provisions as referred to in paragraph (2) are exempted for Cyber Security and Resilience Operation Centers which are operated by micro, small, medium enterprises, and cooperatives.
(4) The National Cyber Security and Resilience Operation Center as referred to in paragraph (2) is organized by BSSN.
Basically Damar is not too concerned about the wiretapping of internet traffic in Indonesia. Because doing the wiretapping is legal if it is done only for the sake of necessity.
“In terms of wiretapping, there is already a KPK Law, a Police Law, an Intelligence Law, but there is a limit to the wiretapping. Then wiretapping can only be done for a reason,” said Damar.
So it doesn’t matter if it’s done targeted, suppose that person is suspected of being a terrorist. However, if there is no reason then wiretapping cannot be done.
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