Friend or Foe: Internet to Indigenous People in Indonesia (Lesson Learned from Inner Baduy Request for Internet Blackout)
Jelita Sari Wiedoko · The Journal of Indonesia Sustainable Development Planning · 2023
The existence of phones/smartphones that can be owned by everyone, including Baduy people, is considered to result in declining morals of our generation that can access non-educating applications and contents."The above-mentioned declaration was written in a letter by a member of the Baduy Dalam tribe.This indigenous community deliberately avoids using money, modern advancements, and formal schooling, thereby preventing tourists from documenting their unique existence.The letter was initially directed to the Lebak Official and later forwarded to the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, bearing the date of June 2023 (Syakriah, 2023)."This request is a part of our efforts to minimize the negative impact of smartphones on our people."Additionally, the assertion above is from a representative from the Baduy community, who argued that the presence of telecommunication towers nearby could pose a threat to their traditional way of life and the inclination of the younger generation towards internet usage (AFP, 2023) In light of this request, Commentary