{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1816589,
        "msgid": "the-difference-between-media-bans-then-and-now-1782122246",
        "date": "2026-06-22 16:22:41",
        "title": "The Difference Between Media Bans Then and Now",
        "author": "",
        "source": "TEMPO_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "Tempo Media Group's CEO Arif Zulkifli argues that pressure on the media today mirrors the New Order era, though methods have shifted from overt bans to covert digital attacks and doxing. Tempo's current editor-in-chief, Setri Yasra, revealed the outlet faces daily cyberattacks, including a DDoS attack just hours before a discussion on press freedom. The panel highlighted that modern suppression also comes through legal challenges and pressure via media owners' other business interests.",
        "content": "<p>Tempo Media Group\u2019s CEO, Arif Zulkifli, known as Azul, believes the\npressure on mass media today is not much different from the New Order\nera. The only difference is the method, but the goal remains the same:\nto restrict press freedom. According to him, if pressure during the New\nOrder era was applied openly through banning or revoking publishing\npermits, today it takes more covert forms, such as digital attacks and\ndoxing against journalists and media outlets. \u201cLike doxing against\njournalists and media. To this day we are still fighting against it,\u201d\nAzul said during the \u2018Ngopi Media Talks: Banned, Then and Now\u2019\ndiscussion at the Tempo Studio in South Jakarta on Monday, 22 June 2026.\nThe former Tempo Editor-in-Chief from 2013 to 2019 also highlighted\npressure exerted through media owners. He said this kind of pressure has\nthe potential to disrupt the independence of the newsroom. \u201cIndependence\ncan be affected by various threats, for example, if other businesses are\ndisrupted,\u201d he said. Current Tempo Editor-in-Chief Setri Yasra added\nthat modern-day banning often manifests in digital attacks whose\nperpetrators are difficult to trace. He cited Tempo\u2019s experience of\nreporting attacks on its website to the police several times, but to\ndate, no perpetrator has been identified. \u201cDigital attacks on Tempo\noccur almost every day. In fact, three hours ago our site was hit by a\nDDoS attack,\u201d Setri said. According to him, the intensity of the attacks\nhas increased over the past five years. He believes there is a\nsystematic effort to instil fear in the newsroom. Besides digital\nattacks, pressure also comes through legal channels. Setri mentioned\nthat Tempo was once sued in court by a party that did not accept the\nPress Council\u2019s decision regarding a news dispute. However, the lawsuit\nwas ultimately rejected by the court. Despite this, Setri stressed that\nthe Tempo editorial team will not be intimidated. He affirmed that\njournalistic work remains grounded in verification and facts on the\nground, regardless of who is involved. \u201cWhoever it is, whether the\npresident, politicians, or other parties, we will report on them based\non facts,\u201d he said. He also emphasised that Tempo\u2019s reporting does not\nside with any particular interest. \u201cWe work professionally and without\nbias,\u201d Setri said. The \u2018Media Talks: Banned, Then and Now\u2019 discussion\nwas held to commemorate the resistance against the banning of Tempo\nMagazine, Editor, and Detik by the government on 21 June 1994. Besides\nAzul and Setri, the event also featured former Tempo Editor-in-Chief\nBambang Harymurti, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director\nUsman Hamid, SAFEnet Executive Director Nenden Sekar Arum, and Cania\nCitta, Co-founder of the Malaka Project.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-difference-between-media-bans-then-and-now-1782122246",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}