ITB student arrested for AI-generated political meme
An ITB student was arrested by Indonesian police for creating and sharing an AI-generated meme depicting two political leaders in a compromising pose. Amnesty International Indonesia called for her release, arguing the arrest violates freedom of expression and contradicts recent constitutional protections for online speech.
What happened
A student at Institut Teknologi Bandung's Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, identified as SSS, created and shared a meme using AI technology that depicted President Prabowo Subianto and former President Joko Widodo in a modified image showing them kissing.
Indonesian National Police (Polri) arrested SSS and charged her under Article 45(1) jo Article 27(1) of the Electronic Information and Transaction Law regarding indecent content, and Article 51(1) jo Article 35 regarding manipulation of electronic information. She faces potential imprisonment of up to 12 years and/or a maximum fine of 12 billion rupiah.
Reported impact
Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director Usman Hamid stated the arrest represents ongoing criminalization of freedom of expression and criticized the use of obscenity laws to suppress peaceful digital expression.
Amnesty International highlighted psychological trauma to the student and her family resulting from the arrest and detention.
Index analysis
Amnesty International contended that artistic expression, satire, and political memes, even if considered offensive, should not be criminalized, and that state institutions and officials are not protected entities under human rights law frameworks.
The case was noted as contradicting a recent Constitutional Court decision stating that disturbances on social media do not constitute criminal offenses.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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