From Hate Speech to Social Exclusion: Rethinking Legal Protection for Religious Minorities in Indonesia's Digital Public Sphere
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65815/pacv9b83Keywords:
hate speech, religious minorities, digital rights, social exclusion, freedom of expressionAbstract
The expansion of digital communication has transformed the production and dissemination of hostility toward religious minorities in Indonesia. Online hate speech can extend beyond verbal harm by reinforcing social stigma, legitimizing discrimination, and contributing to offline intimidation and exclusion. This article examines the relationship between digital hate speech and the broader social marginalization of religious minorities. Using a normative and socio-legal approach, the study analyzes Indonesian legislation governing electronic communication, freedom of expression, religious freedom, and minority protection, together with selected cases and patterns of online discourse. The research applies a rights-based framework to assess the tension between freedom of expression and the state's responsibility to protect minorities from harmful forms of digital hostility. The article argues that existing legal responses frequently concentrate on individual statements and criminal liability while overlooking the structural and cumulative effects of digitally amplified hate. Algorithmic visibility, networked harassment, and repeated stereotyping may create environments in which minority groups are effectively excluded from equal participation in public discourse. The study proposes a broader regulatory framework combining legal accountability, platform responsibility, digital literacy, and effective remedies for targeted communities. It concludes that protecting religious minorities in the digital sphere requires more than criminalizing isolated expressions; it requires addressing the mechanisms through which digital hostility becomes social exclusion and undermines substantive equality.
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