JAKARTA — Indonesia is considering proposals to block Internet sites that are deemed to violate "public decency" and privacy, provoking a barrage of criticism from bloggers and web users.
Fresh from a round of film and book bans, the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is now turning its sights on the Internet in what critics say is a throwback to general Suharto's "New Order" dictatorship.
"Our main objective is very simple. We want to minimise the negative effects of the Internet," communication and information technology ministry spokesman Gatot Dewabrata told AFP, without explaining what effects these were.
"There are myriad violations by Internet users in Indonesia. We don't have any intention to move backward... but we don't want people to think that the government ignores matters like pornography on the Internet."
Yudhoyono backed a controversial anti-pornography law adopted by parliament in 2008 which criminalises an array of traditions unique to Indonesia's multicultural society, such as certain regional dances and costumes.
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