Court Clarifies Press Law Protection for Journalists

KN. The Constitutional Court ruled  that “legal protection” for journalists under Article 8 of the 1999 Press Law means journalists can face criminal or civil sanctions only after all Press Law dispute mechanisms—such as rights of reply, correction, and Press Council ethical reviews—have been exhausted. The decision, prompted by a judicial review from media professionals, aims to stop the premature criminalization of journalism. The court found the article’s current wording too vague to ensure fairness and legal certainty and clarified that clear safeguards are needed to protect journalists from legal action before internal press processes are completed.

Indonesian journalists are facing rising violence, intimidation, and the threat of mass layoffs, as press groups warn of growing authoritarianism undermining press freedom and media sustainability. The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) recorded at least 89 cases of violence against journalists in 2025, including 30 physical assaults and 29 digital attacks, alongside incidents such as coverage bans, forced data deletion, lawsuits, and censorship. While many cases involved unidentified perpetrators,

AJI said police were the second most frequently alleged actors during the first full year of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, followed by the military. AJI chair Nany Afrida said newsroom intervention and intimidation have increased and become normalized.

Indonesia’s Press Council and the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen protection for journalists and the ecosystem of press freedom, agreeing to cooperate on handling and preventing violence, intimidation, criminalization, and persecution against the media.

The agreement was signed at the Press Council’s office in Central Jakarta, with Komnas HAM Chair Anis Hidayah saying the partnership responds to the continued prevalence of attacks on journalists and aims to ensure a safer space for the press as a key pillar of democracy and human rights.