Court rules Internet shutdowns in Papua and West Papua unlawful

The Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) ruled that the decision of the Indonesian government to block Internet services in Papua and West Papua during protests in 2019 was ‘unlawful’. Between August and September 2019, the Indonesian government had on several occasions slowed down and shut down Internet access, and established Internet restrictions in West Papua and Papua in an effort to contain civil unrest.

The court said that any decision limiting people’s right to information needs to be made in accordance with the law and not merely at the government’s discretion. The court has ordered the Indonesian government to issue an apology to the public.