Indonesia in 'pornography emergency' for last three years - Commission

This was evident from the disclosures made by law enforcement officials, which reflect the complexity of the use of children in the pornography industry.

15 Jun 2024 12:10pm
Image for illustrative purposes only - 123RF
Image for illustrative purposes only - 123RF

JAKARTA - Indonesia has been facing a "pornography emergency" in the past three years, said the chairperson of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission, Ai Maryati, recently.

This was evident from the disclosures made by law enforcement officials, which reflect the complexity of the use of children in the pornography industry, reported Antara news agency.

"This (child pornography) has become very widespread at the inter-state level," Maryati said in Jakarta.

According to her, child pornography poses two risks.

First, children become the subject of pornography, whose circulation generates a profit. Second, they become consumers of pornography, which can lead to pornography addiction in the future, she explained.

"This includes other pornographic content, not just child content, adult content, and others," she added.

Maryati then lauded the police for uncovering a child pornography distribution racket run by a 25-year-old, identified as DY, via an application.

According to her, the case still needs to be followed up to identify the producer of the content.

She expressed the hope for coordination between stakeholders, including the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK).

She informed that PPATK can trace the transactions involving the purchase of child pornography content.

"We can trace who benefited from this business," Maryati stated.

Meanwhile, deputy director of Special Criminal Investigation of the Jakarta Metropolitan Office (Polda Metro Jaya), Adjunct Senior Commissioner Hendri Umar, informed that DY managed hundreds of accounts distributing and selling child pornography videos.

"The perpetrator has 105 Telegram groups or channels, including, VVIP BOCIL, VVIP INDO BOCIL 1, VVIP INDO BOCIL 2, INDO VIRAL, SELEBGRAM, LIVE BAR BAR, SKANDAL, VCS, and ASIA," Umar disclosed.

From the total of 2,010 videos distributed since November 2022, it is estimated that the perpetrator earned hundreds of millions of rupiah from sales from the Telegram groups, he said. - BERNAMA-ANTARA