Meutya Hafid Denies Censoring News on Demonstrations

Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid stated that the government has never restricted the mass media from covering and reporting on demonstrations occurring in Indonesia. According to her, the mass media is open to reporting various information occurring in Indonesia in accordance with Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press.

"From the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, we have not imposed any prohibition on the mass media from carrying out any form of coverage as long as it adheres to journalistic principles and is within the corridors of the Press Law. So that is not true," Meutya said at the Office of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Central Jakarta, on Monday.

This was conveyed in response to circulating public concerns that the government was limiting the mass media from reporting information about demonstrations, which in recent months have been intensively staged by the public, from labourers to students.

Meutya further stated that she actually supports the mass media in reporting information and facts on the ground accurately and quickly to combat hoaxes circulating in the digital space. Especially approaching the celebration of Indonesia’s Independence Day, she noted that much disinformation is currently circulating in the digital space, causing fear and anxiety among the Indonesian public. Therefore, the role of the mass media is crucial in countering the negative impacts of these hoaxes through precise and accurate reporting amidst the rapid flow of information.

"In fact, Komdigi wants our media colleagues to please cover and report the truth quickly, so as not to give room for disinformation to enter," Meutya said.

This aligns with a statement from the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) some time ago when students were intensively staging demonstrations last June. On Monday (15/6), the Central Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) stated that the Government respects press freedom in reporting national issues, including the student demonstration that occurred on 12 June 2026. This also clarified rumours on social media claiming that national television did not report on the student demonstration on 12 June 2026. "The statement that no national television reported on the student demonstration is inaccurate. Our monitoring shows that at least nine television stations covered the event," said Central KPI Commissioner and Coordinator for Broadcast Content Supervision, Tulus Santoso, in a statement received in Jakarta. Tulus said accusations of government co-optation of the mass media to prevent coverage of demonstrations are baseless. He stated that KPI as the regulator and the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs do not have the authority to dictate or direct the content of mass media reporting. "Media have their own editorial boards and independent editorial policies," Tulus said.