Kupang Mayor Forms Cyber Team to Monitor Civil Servants Using Social Media During Work Hours

The Mayor of Kupang, Christian Widodo, has formed a cyber team to monitor civil servants (ASN) who engage with social media during working hours. This measure was announced by Christian following public complaints regarding ASN using social media while on duty.

“I, along with the deputy mayor, have formed a team of five cyber personnel. I have emphasised several important points: during working hours, do not use social media,” stated Christian in Kupang on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

According to Christian, nearly all institutions enforce similar rules, including schools and private companies both locally and centrally. Therefore, he has created a personal team to oversee ASN during work. Christian claims to be funding the team himself.

The politician from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) also plans to impose sanctions on violating ASN. “For sanctions, they can be in accordance with applicable rules, starting from verbal warnings, written warnings, and certainly disciplinary sanctions,” he explained.

The Deputy Chairman of the Kupang City Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), Yeskiel Loudue, believes that leadership elements, both in regional device organisations and sub-districts, must commit to addressing this issue. The goal is to ensure no ASN uses social media during working hours.

“That means if the mayor wants to do that, please go ahead. It’s possibly the mayor’s good intention to discipline the ASN. If they are not left unchecked, this won’t happen. But if not properly controlled, it leads to this,” stressed Yeskiel.

According to Yeskiel, heads of OPD and sub-districts must be held accountable if ASN still use social media during work. However, he leaves the matter entirely to Christian.

“So please, the mayor can decide how to proceed, but in my view, first guide the department heads and sub-district heads because they are the leaders. This happens because there is no function from the leadership to supervise their staff,” explained Yeskiel.

Yeskiel views the formation of a cyber team to monitor ASN at work as actually unnecessary, as supervision can be carried out by leaders in each agency. However, for Yeskiel, the creation of an external cyber team by Christian indicates that the Mayor of Kupang does not trust the heads of OPD or leaders in sub-districts.

“Actually, the cyber team is not needed; what is required is how leaders can supervise their employees. But hopefully, it runs continuously and doesn’t stop halfway,” said Yeskiel.