Discourse on Cybersecurity Bill

· 3 minutes read

With regard to deliberation on the Cybersecurity and Protection Bill, two points are up for discussion. First, the process of filing the Cybersecurity and Protection Bill, which has been deemed irregular, has raised questions.

Second is the need to understand the scope of deliberating the Cybersecurity Bill. As this daily reported on Monday (26/8/2019), the bill has been presented to the House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session, but has not been introduced to House Commission I overseeing defense, foreign affairs and information. In fact, following its discussion at the plenary meeting, the DPR leadership plans to send it to the government to itemize problems with bill.

Hendrawan Supratikno, a Legislative Body (Baleg) member from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, explained that the DPR leadership meeting’s decision to replace the Deliberation Board, House Commission I and Baleg in discussing the bill had been submitted to Commission I. The National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) was a partner of Commission I. Copies of the bill had been distributed to DPR members, including members of Commission I.

On the other hand, House Commission I chairman Abdul Kharis Almasyari, of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction, said he had not yet received a copy of the draft bill and could only discuss it once the draft bill was submitted (Kompas, 26/8/2019). Is there some miscommunication?

The second point, which is no less interesting, relates to the broad scope of the Cybersecurity and Protection Bill. We agree with House Commission I member Dave Laksono of the Golkar Party faction. He said that he would invite civil society, academics and experts in discussing the bill, so that it did not violate rights human rights or diminish freedoms.

The need to involve stakeholders, civilians, experts and academics across sectors has also been underlined by Ardi Sutedja, chairman of the Indonesia Cybersecurity Forum. Cyberspace is very broad and dynamic, so that many people of various disciplines need to be involved in discussing the bill. Regulating cyberspace is not merely a legal matter and requires more than a bureaucratic approach, as it requires technological knowledge, an understanding of industry needs, and even social impacts of the law.

Extensive and dynamic are the keywords that we must consider in regulating cyberspace, especially in terms of securing it and protecting its use. To be precise, herein lies the dilemma of cyberspace: On the one hand, cyber technology greatly helps us, but on the other, its convenience also causes vulnerability and dependence.

Those of us who use cyber technology cannot help but be aware that its security concerns a multitude of aspects.

The broad dimensions of cybersecurity do not only involve stakeholders in the military, but also general financial and economic aspects, as well as public utilities like electricity and telecommunications. Those of us who use cyber technology cannot help but be aware that its security concerns a multitude of aspects.

With regard to defense, we must inevitably have enforcement, including regulations and reliable cyber troops to secure the national interest. Going further, we need capable human beings that we must nurture from a young age at schools and higher education institutions. Only with careful preparation and understanding can we develop an effective law that protects the country but does not limit individual creativity.

Editor:

naranasrullah

kompascetak the cybersecurity and protection bill