Today, many crime cases are shared by the public on social media in hopes of seeking justice and urging law enforcement to act. This reflects how the advances in communication technology can shape the law enforcement process in Indonesia, which often serves as a means to monitor and safeguard its progress.
Although the law enforcement process has evolved with the creation of an online complaint system, people still prefer to report crime cases through social media. The widespread practice of making such cases go viral has given rise to the hashtag No Viral No Justice, which reflects public perceptions of the law enforcement sector as being ineffective in resolving cases.
According to data from the Indonesian Survey Institute in 2023, 22.6% of the public rated national law enforcement poorly. This can be evident in cases that are taken seriously only after gaining significant attention on social media, such as the Ferdy Sambo case. Public opinion shaped through social media has even been shown to influence court rulings, sometimes resulting in sentences harsher than those sought by prosecutors.
In response to this issue, a student from the Faculty of Law at Hasanuddin University (Unhas), Ibriza Sabrina Nadila, together with her team in the Social Humanities Research Student Creativity Program (PKM-RSH), conducted a study on the effectiveness of Friedman’s legal theory in addressing the No Viral No Justice controversy in Makassar City. As part of their research, they interviewed law enforcement officials, including police officers, prosecutors, and judges in Makassar.
“According to Friedman’s theory, the concept of ‘legal culture’, which encompasses legal knowledge, understanding, and awareness, is an integral component that plays a crucial role in shaping society’s interaction with the legal system,” explained one of the team members, Wanda Anggraeni, on Monday (14/05).
Based on their findings, the team concluded that this concept is a key variable in the process of legal change within society, driven by the growing awareness of law. Greater legal knowledge and understanding can enhance public trust in the legal system.
“Conversely, if people perceive that the law does not function effectively, it can undermine public trust and alter the values they uphold,” said the Unhas Faculty of Law student.
These changes are rooted in the reality that societal values and attitudes toward the law no longer align with public expectations. Moreover, the study, which employed both quantitative and qualitative methods, revealed several reasons why people choose to report or share about crime cases on social media. The main reason is that social media is seen as a tool to expedite the handling of criminal cases.
Furthermore, this study examines and analyzes Friedman’s theory of legal effectiveness in the No Viral No Justice controversy through the dimensions of legal structure, legal culture, and legal substance. In terms of legal structure, the team identified that one factor contributing to the slow pace of law enforcement in Makassar City is that many investigators lacked sufficient legal qualifications. Investigators without law degrees often lack understanding of the technical aspects of preparing case files, resulting in noncompliance with the formal and substantive requirements stipulated by law. As a consequence, case files are frequently returned, leading to delays in case handling and decreased efficiency.
Legal culture contributes to the proliferation of the No Viral No Justice phenomenon in the Makassar city community. Some reasons for this include faster case handling when cases are uploaded to social media, the underutilized principle of equality before the law, the deterrent effect and social sanctions on social media, slow law enforcement by authorities, and complicated reporting procedures.
The No Viral No Justice phenomenon is also rooted in the dimension of legal substance, particularly when legal provisions do not clearly elaborate on the content of regulations. In Makassar City, the Smart Police Polrestabes application has simplified the case reporting system. However, several provisions remain insufficiently detailed, resulting in delays in case handling.
Research data indicates that only 29% of the public is familiar with the use of mobile applications or digital platforms for reporting crimes. Some complaint procedures are not explained in detail, leaving complainants uncertain during the reporting process. One example is the unclear provision regarding the time limit for the police to follow up on crime reports.”
This research aims to raise public awareness in the wider community of the No Viral No Justice phenomenon, which arises from social interaction and is shaped by community experiences. It can also serve as a recommendation for law enforcement officials in evaluating policy briefs related to the upholding of legal substance, the Draft Criminal Procedure Code, and may be incorporated into discussions within the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).
Read the full article in Bahasa
Original Writer: Andika Wijaya
Translated By: Azzahra Dzahabiyyah Asyila Rahma
