If Granted by Constitutional Court, RCTI’s Lawsuit Could Threaten the Freedom of Live Broadcasting on Social Media

WhatsAppWhatsAppFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterPinterestPinterestRedditRedditGmailGmailShareShare

Last updated on May 18th, 2021 at 05:27 am

Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia (RCTI) and Visi Mitra Mulia (iNews TV) are known to be currently in a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court (MK) contesting Act 32/2002 Article 1 Point 2

The two MNC media groups considered the ambiguous internet-based broadcasting arrangements and caused legal uncertainty to be the grounds for the lawsuit.

The consequence of this lawsuit is that netizens can’t do broadcasting live through social media.

Therefore every company such as Facebook, Google, Instagram, and others must have broadcasting permits. Many people also criticize RCTI’s move.

In a preliminary hearing at the Constitutional Court Building in early July, the lawyer for RCTI and iNews TV, Imam Nasef, said that the state must be present in broadcasting activities as a form of protection for its citizens. Including, in virtual jurisdiction.

RCTI and iNews questioned Article 1 number 1 of the Broadcasting Law which contain: “Broadcast is a message or series of messages in the form of sound, picture, or sound and picture or the form of graphics, characters, whether interactive or not, which can be received via the broadcast receiving device.”

RCTI and iNews also feel aggrieved because of discrimination in several ways. For example, in broadcasting activities, the applicant must first be incorporated in Indonesia, until obtaining a broadcast license.

The Ministry of Communication and Information who was present at the third trial as a government representative asked the Constitutional Court to reject the RCTI and iNews requests. The government considers that if the request is granted, the public will not able to access social media freely.

“The definition of broadcast expansion will classify activities as Instagram TV, Instagram Live, Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and the distribution of other audio-visual content on social media platforms, which will be required to become licensed broadcasting institutions,” said the Director-General of Post and Information Administration or Dirjen Penyelenggaraan Pos dan Informatika (PPI) of the Ministry of Communication and Information Ahmad M Ramli during the trial at the Constitutional Court, Wednesday, August 26.

Ramli said, in terms of broadcasting, the government has provided a special allocation in the use of radiofrequency spectrum which is a limited natural resource for television broadcasting institutions to provide free to air broadcasts. This limitation is regulated so rigidly for the widest possible benefit for the public.

Ramli admits that a new law is needed which regulates broadcast services via the internet itself and this is the domain of the government and the People’s Representative Council. Until that happens, for the time being, the Ministry of Communication and Information asked the Constitutional Court to reject the lawsuit from RCTI and iNews TV.

Noto

Jakarta-based Newswriter for The Asian Affairs. A budding newswriter that always keep track of the latest trends and news that are happening in my country Indonesia.

Recent Posts

Korean Actress Kang Seo Ha Dies at Age 31 After Battling Illness

Kang Seo Ha, a South Korean actress passed away yesterday aged 31 and the South Korean entertainment industry is mourning.…

July 15, 2025

Indonesia U23 Squad Finalized for ASEAN U23 Cup 2025 in Jakarta

The Indonesian Football Federation has now officially settled on a 23-man list of competitors who will take part in the…

July 15, 2025

Why the UAE Is Becoming a Trusted Global Hub for Digital Payment Systems

The United Arab Emirates is not just on a path to becoming cashless - it is defining the future of…

July 14, 2025

BLACKPINK’s ‘Jump’ Reaches third No.1 on Spotify Global

K-pop sensation BLACKPINK has made history once again.The phenomenon, which is BLACKPINK's last single, "Jump," official hit number one on…

July 14, 2025

Japan’s Tokito Oda wins second Wimbledon wheelchair title

 Japan's Tokito Oda captured his second Wimbledon men's wheelchair singles title, overcoming Britain's Alfie Hewett 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 in a…

July 14, 2025

KPop Demon Hunters Movie Breaks Records with Hit Song ‘Golden’ on Spotify Charts

KPop Demon Hunters is the story of a huge animated movie success that conquered the hearts of people all around…

July 12, 2025