Our Right to Share, Their Right to Know
An Analysis of Public Interest Defense to Defamation
Abstract
The defamation reports have increased and shifted under online-based technology through social media. This study considered the defamation issue in Indonesia that alleged Richard Lee, a doctor who shared a beneficial publication through social media about the dangerous skincare product. Richard's audience believed that his content helped them know the hidden truth behind skincare products available in the market. Consequently, the public questioned whether he was liable because he was regarded to share helpful information under the public interest. This study aimed to analyze Indonesia’s defamation laws, especially in public interest defense under Article 310(3) of the Indonesian Criminal Code. However, the interpretation for public interest as a crime abolition is unclear, resulting in various courts' decisions that lead to criminalizing internet users. This study used legal research with statutory and comparative approaches. It examined legal norms and practices in Indonesia and compared those in the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand. These three countries adapted defamation law to develop cases, including those alleged defamations for the public interest. While the freedom of expression is enshrined in the constitution, its practice has contradicted defamation provisions outlined in derivative regulations. By comparison, these three countries have precise boundaries and public interest defense is explicit. Those countries have specific rules and lists that needed to be fulfilled for those who use public interest defense. The lists based on previous precedents show how they learn and adapt to the development of public interest defense in many cases. This study concluded that Indonesia does not have specific standards or rules to determine cases categorized as the public interest.
KEYWORDS: Public Interest Defense, Online Defamation, Freedom of Expression.
References
Ahmad Sofian, Tafsir Pasal Pencemaran Nama Baik, online:
Anak Agung Saraswati, “The Need to Protect Freedom of Expression on the Internet through a Human Rights-Based in Indonesia” (2019) Asian Journal of Legal Studies 2/1.
Anggara, et. al., " Menimbang Ulang Pasal 27 ayat (3) UU ITE dalam Putusan Pengadilan: Pertimbangan Putusan Pengadilan Terkait Penggunaan Pasal 27 ayat (3) UU No 11 Tahun 2008 tentang Informasi dan Transaksi Elektronik di Indonesia" (2016) Institute for Criminal Justice Reform.
Baharudin Al Farisi, Alasan Kartika Putri Tetap Laporkan Richard Lee ke Polisi walau Sudah Minta Maaf, online:
Dean Jobb, “Responsible Communication on Matters of Public Interest: A New Defense Updates Canada’s Defamation Law” (2010) J Int’l Media & Entertainment Law 3.
Devesh Awmee, “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: An Analysis of the New Public Interest Defense to Defamation Claims” (2018) University of Wellington.
Dyah Rosiana Puspitasari, “Judicial Review of Criminal Defamation According to The Law of Electronic Information and Transaction: A Case Study of Flourence Saulina Sihombing” (2017) Yustisia 6/3.
Emily Howie, “Protecting the Human Right to Freedom of Expression in International Law” (2018) International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 20/1.
Erwin Asmadi, “Rumusan Delik dan Pemidanaan Bagi Tindak Pidana Pencemaran Nama Baik di Media Sosial” (2021) Delegalata 6/1.
Eti Mul Erowati. “Compensation of defamation in Indonesia” (2019) 358 3rd International Conference on Globalization of Law and Local Wisdom (ICGLOW 2019).
Fifink Praiseda Alviolita and Barda Nawawi Arief, “Kebijakan Formulasi tentang Perumusan Tindak Pidana Pencemaran Nama Baik dalam Pembahar an Hukum Pidana di Indonesia” (2019) Law Reform 15/1.
Judith Townend. “Freedom of Expression and the Chilling Effect” (2017) Routledge Companion to Media and Human Rights.
Jun Shimizu. “Defamation and Privacy Law in Japan – from a Comparative Perspective” (2020) Comparative Privacy and Defamation.
Kamshad Mohsin and Zainab Zaya Khan, “Right to Privacy in Digital Era” (2020) SSRN.
Kyung Sin Park and Jong-Sung You. “Criminal Prosecutions for Defamation and Insult in South Korea with a Leflarian Study in Election Contexts” (2017) University of Pennsylvania Asian Law Review 12:4.
Lukman Hakim, “The Symptoms of Over-Criminalization on Defamation Through Electronic Media in Indonesia” (2019) South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics and Law 19/5.
M. Fauzi, “State, Public Interest, and Bankruptcy: The Case of Indonesia” (2018) South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics, and Law 15/5.
Muhammad Ardiansyah Arifin, et al., "Indonesia Abuse of Defamation Clause in Article 27 Section (3) of Electronic Information and Transaction Law" (2020) South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics and Law 23:1.
Nadiyah Munisah Hamelia, “The Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right (ICCPR) as an International Regime in Indonesia During the Joko Widodo Era (2014-2019)” (2020) Mediasi: Journal of International Relation.
Nono Anwar Makarim, "Press Freedom in Indonesia: A Case of Draconian Laws, Statutory Misinterpretation, but still one of the Freest in Southeast Asia," (2010) Journal of Civil Law Studies 3/1.
Putra Akay, “Pasal 310 ayat (3) Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana Sebagai Suatu Alasan Penghapus Pidana Khusus” (2019) Lex Crimen VIII/8.
R. Herlambang Perdana Wiratraman, “New Media and Human Rights: The Legal Battle of Freedom of Expression in Indonesia” (2010). 11th Annual Student Human Rights Law Conference Nottingham University.
R. Soesilo, Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana (KUHP) : Serta Komentar-Komentarnya Lengkap Pasal Demi Pasal, (Bogor: Politeia,1996).
Rafika Nur, et al. "Insult and Defamation through Information Technology: Indonesia Perspective" (2020) International Journal of Emerging Technologies 11:4
Raisa L. Saroinsong, "Pertanggung Jawaban terhadap Pelaku Tindak Pidana Pencemaran Nama Baik Berdasarkan Pasal 310 KUHP" (2017) Lex Privatum V/7.
Randall Stephenson, “Durie v Gardiner: Public Libel Law and Stare Non Decisis” (2020) Modern Law Review 83:3
Reydi Vridell Awawangi, “Pencemaran Nama Baik dalam KUHP dan Menurut UU No 11 Tahun 2008 tentang Informasi dan Transaksi Eletronik” (2014) Lex Crimen III:4.
Rosa Agustina, Perbuatan Melawan Hukum, (Jakarta: Penerbit Pasca Sarjana FH Universitas Indonesia, 2003).
Ruiteng Liu, “Innovation and Reform: Applying New Zealand’s Public Interest Defense in Defamation to Social Media and Blogs” (2020) Victoria University of Wellington Legal Research Papers 21/7.
S. R. Sianturi, Tindak Pidana di KUHP Berikut Uraiannya, (Jakarta: Alumni AHM-PTHM, 1983).
Satria Ardi Yana and Bambang Tri Bawono, “Effectiveness of Implementing EIT Laws and Investigations Damnation through Social Media” (2020) Law Development Journal 2/3.
Sitti Aisah Abdullah, et al. “The Legal Protection for Journalism of Citizen in the Spread Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” (2020) Scholars International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice.
Soerjono Soekanto and Sri Mamudji, Peranan dan Penggunaan Kepustakaan di dalam Penelitian Hukum, (Jakarta: Pusat Dokumentasi UI, 1979).
Sri Mamudji, et, al., Metode Penelitian dan Penulisan Hukum, (Jakarta: Badan Penerbit Fakultas Hukum Universitas Indonesia, 2005).
