- 16/04/2021
- Category: Press Release
Google Meet, 26th March 2021 – The Center for Digital Society (CfDS) UGM invited two of its research associates, Mira Ardhya and Irnasya Shafira, to discuss digital activism’s vigor, which is more prevalent during the pandemic. In this discussion, Mira talked about Digital Activism: Limitations and Possibilities, while Irnasya focused on the digital vigilante phenomenon in online sexual predators. This discussion is broadcasted live through Google Meet and CfDS UGM’s official YouTube channel.
Digital Activism: Limitations and Possibilities
Mira began her explanation by briefly describing the recent development of the methods of activism. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered society’s custom in doing physical activities. One of the common activism, which is usually done by gathering mass, has to adapt to the digital methods. However, some gave an opinion that digital activism does not have the significant impact as physical activism. Yet, Mira thought otherwise. “The influence of digital activism or clicktivism is actually larger than what people imagined before,” Mira said.
To understand whether digital activism reflects physical activism’s characteristics, one should examine whether it satisfied the aim, goals, and vigorous actions until it can be determined as a form of activism. Mira explained that one of the differences between digital activism and physical activism is their proof of existence, especially in actor visibility. In physical activism, the actor is more visible, and the general public can validate their identity. On the other hand, in digital activism, the main actor behind the movement is less visible. Their identity is prone to the risk of the movement being infiltrated by anonymous accounts. Nevertheless, one of the advantages of digital activism is the creativity in designing the actions themselves.
In general, Mira mentioned that digital activism has its advantages and limitations. Digital activism can provide a space to be creative in delivering freedom of speech. Moreover, digital activism can also reach a wider audience, depicting their strength in the number of people involved. However, this wider reach provided by digital activism can also backfire when the actions are being infiltrated by a person who is willing to spread misinformation or hate speech, blurring the movement’s goals itself.
As the closing statement, Mira told Smart People of the few ways digital activism can be more effective and complementary to physical activism. There is a necessity to plan comprehensively and control the issues that are being advocated to prevent the spread of misinformation or hoax. “Digital activism cannot be separated from physical activities. Both of them can support each other to realize the goal of the movement collectively and through organized ways.” Mira concludes.
Digital Vigilante and the Sexual Harassment case in Indonesia
In this discussion, Irnasya referred to an Instagram account named @aliskamugemash, which exposed some sexual harassment cases and fraud that started through online dating apps. Not only exposing the alleged perpetrator’s acts, but this account also spread their personal information, namely, job and address. What @aliskamugemash did can be a dilemma when this account started to spread personal information without consent. @aliskamugemash’s action drew many concerns, whether exposing personal data can be justifiable for the sake of justice for the victims.
According to Irnasya, the victims preferred to talk with @aliskamugemash admin rather than the police because the Indonesian legal system tends not to side with victims of sexual harassment. It has further impact by the social stigma around victims of sexual harassment. Irnasya also added that the purpose of digital vigilante accounts such as @aliskamugemash is to bring the perpetrator a step closer to justice. “Digital vigilante did what the law can’t, which is to give the perpetrator a social sanction by shaming them,” Irnasya concluded. Digital vigilante is one way to bridge the gap between the hard-to-catch perpetrator and the law itself. Even though the form of digital vigilante employed by @aliskamugemash provided a comfort zone to victims to share their stories, but it steps out of the corridor of law by exploiting the condition of anonymity. Therefore, this kind of movement is named vigilantism, as its action can be against the law by spreading someone’s personal information without consent.
During her closing session, Irnasya asked the audience to reflect on cases of sexual harassment in Indonesia and its relations with digital vigilantism. Will these cases receive the same amount of exposure if it was being reported to the police compared to the presence of @aliskamugemash? In the end, the numerous people that supported the presence of this account can be a moral encouragement for the victims to speak up about their stories.
Both digital activism and digital vigilantism discussed in this Difussion session shared the characteristics of goals, aim, and vigorous action. Through social media development, the audience’s reach became wider, and in turn, their actions and goals can be understood more by the people and gained more support from broader society.
Writer: Aldo Rafi
Editor: Ruth T. SImanjuntak
