Indonesia - August 2026
Court strikes down laws criminalizing insulting the government
On 29 August 2026, Indonesia's Constitutional Court struck down provisions of the 2023 Criminal Code that criminalized insulting the government or disseminating such insults. The Code had come into force in January 2026. The provisions, which carried penalties of up to three years' imprisonment, had been criticized by civil-society groups and legal experts for restricting free expression and discouraging public criticism of state institutions. The Court ruled that the articles risked criminalizing legitimate criticism and creating a chilling effect on public debate. The decision followed a judicial review petition filed by law students and is final and binding. Rights advocates welcomed the ruling as an important safeguard for freedom of expression and civic space, although some noted that other legal provisions which could be used against government critics remain law.
