REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- Web-based messaging application Telegram is expected to clarify its standard operating procedure (SOP) related to the blocking of terrorism and radicalism content in the mobile networks, Indonesian National Counter-terrorism Agency (BNPT) head Commander General Suhardi Alius stated.
"That is what we expect from the Telegram authority; the detailed information will be released tomorrow by the Ministry of Communications and Information," he said at the agency's office on Monday.
The government's decision to block the chatting application was made after a long observation conducted by the Ministry of Communications and Information in cooperation with law enforcement officials.
In a statement on Friday (July 14), the ministry officially blocked the service of Telegram on the grounds that Telegram "could jeopardize the security of the country by not providing SOPs in the handling of terrorism cases."
The ministry also asked Internet Service Provider (ISP) to terminate access (blocking) to Telegram's 11 Domain Name System (DNS).
"This has to be done because there are many channels on this service that are full of radical and terrorist propaganda, hatred, ways to make bombs, how to carry out attacks, and disturbing images, which are all in conflict with Indonesian law," the ministry said in a statement on its website.
The ministry is preparing for the total closure of Telegram in Indonesia, which has several million users, if it does not develop procedures to block unlawful content.
The government, according to Alius, will not remain silent after seeing a number of radical content, including the assembly of explosive devices circulating through social media, especially the Telegram.
He expected people to support and view the decision in a positive way as the country's concern to anticipate the effects of emerging technologies to spread terrorists' radical values.
BNPT also invited people's participation on information regarding other applications to watch out for matters related to terrorism.
Meanwhile, Associated Press reported on Saturday that Telegram had now blocked the channels that were reported to it by the Indonesian government.
Pavel Durov, who with his brother Nikolai founded the app in 2013, said in a message to his 40 thousand followers on Telegram that he had been unaware of the failure to quickly respond to Indonesian government request to block a number of offending channels - chat groups on the app - but was now rectifying the situation, AP reported.
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