Amidst the hustle and bustle of the digital world, the boundaries between public and private spaces are increasingly blurring. Almost all daily human activities can now be recorded, stored, and shared through digital devices and the internet. Devices and networks, originally designed to foster interaction and overcome geographical boundaries, have evolved into virtually limitless spaces for sharing. Furthermore, social media has become a platform for distributing diverse forms of content. Observing this, the author and several history students from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) sought to raise awareness of this privacy-related theme through an exhibition, in line with the final project of their Contemporary History course, entitled “Living in the Spotlight: The Controversy of the ITE Law (Electronic Information and Transactions Law) as a Privacy Protector” (Friday, November 28, 2025).
The exhibition was held in Luweng Soegondo, Literature Canteen, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM). It consists of four sections. The first section presents cases related to privacy violations before the enactment of the ITE Law (Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 11/2008). The second section covers cases after the enactment of the law. The third section traces the chronology of the ITE Law’s history, and the fourth highlights its pros and cons. Overall, the exhibition examines the ITE Law and its original purpose as a regulation intended to protect the public in the digital world. Over time, it explores whether the law has truly safeguarded privacy or produced unintended negative consequences. The exhibition also features a number of articles widely discussed by the public, with privacy remaining the central theme.
One visitor commented, “Today’s digital world has both positive and negative aspects. The positive aspect is that geographical boundaries are no longer a barrier to interaction. However, because there are no definite boundaries—whether territorial or otherwise—information can easily spread unfiltered, making it highly vulnerable to misinformation.” He added, “Privacy is an individual right that must not be violated by others. Society and the government need to immediately establish boundaries to keep pace with rapid technological development.” Several student visitors appreciated the exhibition and remarked that it was impressive, as it encourages young people to be aware of and informed about privacy in the digital world.
The students and the author, as exhibition organizers, hope it will be beneficial not only in achieving final exam grades but also in fostering an understanding of the importance of privacy, which is increasingly under threat. Do you see how critical this has become? ***
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