Indonesia - April 2025

Indonesia’s Constitutional Court ruled three parts of the 1946 criminal code criminalizing the dissemination of fake news and defamation unconstitutional on 17 April. Human rights and press freedom advocates hailed the decision as a small but significant victory for freedom of expression, as these parts of the criminal code had historically been used to punish fair criticism of government officials. Defamation remains criminalized in Indonesia under numerous statutes, and the United Nations and Human Rights Watch have criticized other elements of the country’s codes and statutes which similarly limit freedom of expression and the press. However, advocates say the ruling provides a strong precedent which will allow other petitioners to challenge the constitutionality of other statutes.

Sources: Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, Reuters, Human Rights Watch