16 University of Indonesia Law Faculty Students Involved in Alleged Sexual Harassment Group Chat Case, Campus Issues Severe Sanctions!

A case of alleged sexual harassment at the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Law has escalated to a serious stage, with 16 students reportedly embroiled in the controversy that originated from a closed conversation group. The chat’s content is suspected to include elements of verbal harassment, objectification of women, and inappropriate comments directed at both female students and lecturers within the campus environment. This incident has swiftly drawn widespread public attention, not only due to the significant number of alleged perpetrators but also because it involves a prestigious educational institution, raising concerns about communication culture and ethics in academic settings. “UI affirms that any form of sexual violence, including verbal forms occurring in digital or offline interactions, constitutes a serious violation of the university’s foundational values, the academic community’s code of ethics, and prevailing legal regulations,” stated Erwin Agustian Panigoro, Director of Public Relations, Media, Government, and International Affairs at UI’s Depok Campus, on Tuesday, 14 April 2026. The case first emerged publicly following the circulation of screenshots from the group chat on social media, posted by an anonymous account and quickly spreading, eliciting a wave of reactions from netizens. The circulated conversation content includes statements deemed harassing, derogatory, and treating women as objects of jokes. Of particular sharp focus is that the discussions not only target fellow students but are also suspected to involve lecturers, which is viewed as exacerbating the situation by touching on aspects of professionalism and ethics in higher education. After going viral, the case has drawn harsh condemnation from various parties, with many deeming the students’ behaviour unreflective of the values that aspiring law graduates should uphold. Public reaction has intensified further upon learning that the number of suspected individuals reaches 16. This phenomenon has also opened broader discussions on the boundaries between jokes and harassment, particularly in private communication spaces that can have significant impacts when disseminated publicly.