Safeguarding Digital Right with Nenden Sekar

That afternoon, at the end of 2014, Nenden Sekar Arum was still focused on her laptop screen at the Bisnis Indonesia Group office. The same goes for some of Nenden's colleagues, who were focused at their desks, filling the room with the shifting sound of keyboards. On their screens, financial reports and economic growth charts were clearly displayed. A 2011 graduate of the Informatics Engineering program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), Nenden was preparing an article analyzing the impact of political policies affecting the financial performance of specific industry sectors.

Carefully, she examined the numbers in the reports. It was her responsibility to turn the complex data into readable narratives for people.

“At Bisnis.com, I really learned that data can make us see the truth. These figures can reveal facts that aren’t immediately visible, and that’s the power of data journalism,” she said.

The world of journalism she now embraced wasn't something she had planned for. She discovered her passion for journalism through the Student Press Unit (LPM) Pabelan. There, she learned the fundamentals of journalism, such as interview techniques, news writing, and compiling investigative reports.

“I enrolled in Informatics Engineering because I was curious about how to create a game, since I loved gaming back in high school. But as a freshman, I got hooked on LPM Pabelan, so I often went out to cover campus activities or highlight issues relevant to students,” she said, recalling her college days.

Nenden became so active in LPM Pabelan that many people on campus thought she was a Communication Sciences student. “Because I was always out reporting, a lot of people got the wrong idea,” she joked with a small laugh. Her experiences at LPM Pabelan shaped her love for journalism, even though her academic background was quite different.

Nenden's skill in writing news became a valuable asset as she began her professional career at PT Aksara Solopos.

“I was so excited when I got accepted at Solopos. I could finally apply everything I learned at LPM Pabelan on a larger scale,” she recalled.

Working at Solopos allowed her to cover a variety of social and economic issues, ranging from the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to local government policies affecting the people of Solo and surrounding areas. During her time there, she was assigned to cover different regions like Sragen, Sukoharjo, and Solo City. “Solopos assigns reporters by region,” she said.

However, amidst the daily routine, Nenden began thinking of ways to sharpen her writing further, using the data she frequently encountered on duty as a tool to enhance her journalistic narratives.

“I often thought, what if the data I found could be used to enrich the articles? So, I started learning how to read and visualize data. I was already somewhat familiar with data from my university days,” she said. This curiosity led Nenden to step outside her comfort zone of field reporting. Her career at Bisnis Indonesia Group marked the transition from field journalism to data journalism, a field she became increasingly dedicated to, especially after joining Katadata as a researcher and data analyst in 2018.

“At Solopos, I was used to gathering information directly from sources in the field, but at Bisnis.com, I started to see how data could add more depth to a story,” she explained.

Nenden plays a crucial role in producing evidence-based econographic articles. She is responsible for processing and analyzing complex data and turning it into engaging and easily understandable visualizations.

“By using charts, infographics, or diagrams, we as data journalists help readers grasp trends and patterns in current economic and social issues,” she added.

Amid her busy work life, Nenden felt the need to deepen her knowledge of technology and data, which had been her focus all along. She decided to pursue a master’s degree in Advanced Computer Science at the University of Birmingham, UK, funded by LPDP scholarship.

“I eventually resigned from Bisnis Indonesia Group, if I remember correctly, it was in September 2016, and then focused on completing my studies in the UK for a year,” she said, recalling her journey.

Her commitment to data journalism solidified further when she co-founded the Indonesian Data Journalism Network (IDJN) in 2019, alongside colleagues who also specialized in data journalism.

“At IDJN, we train journalists on how to process data so they can feel more confident using data as a primary source for their articles. At that time, I felt data journalism in Indonesia was still far behind, especially compared to the UK. Many Indonesian journalists struggled with data visualization, even though data has become essential in writing today,” she explained. For Nenden, IDJN was created as a learning platform for young journalists eager to hone their skills in data analysis and present it in more informative ways.

After spending several years in the field of data journalism, Nenden’s interest began to shift. She became increasingly drawn to the issue of freedom of expression in the digital space and the role of technology in upholding digital rights. Her interest grew stronger after witnessing the misuse of Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE), which was often used to silence critical voices on social media.

“When the UU ITE was enforced, many people were accused of defamation just for criticizing government policies. For me, that was a very distressing situation. Freedom of expression is a human right that allows everyone to voice their opinions freely,” she said.

In mid-2020, Nenden decided to dive into the world of digital rights advocacy by joining the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet). Initially, she served as a project officer, responsible for designing a system to collect and analyze data related to digital rights violations, such as the misuse of the UU ITE or gender-based violence in digital spaces.

“About ten months later, I was promoted to Head of the Freedom to Express Division, continuing advocacy efforts for freedom of expression, particularly in the digital realm,” she added.

One of the most challenging cases for her involved advocating for an activist who was detained for criticizing government policies on social media. “We had to approach many parties, from the government to the media, to apply pressure for the case to be reconsidered,” Nenden explained. 

“It’s a matter of principle, that everyone has the right to voice their opinion without fear."

Recently, SAFEnet received recognition for its contribution to fighting for digital rights in Indonesia. At the 26th anniversary celebration of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), SAFEnet was awarded for its efforts in coordinating the response to gender-based violence and strengthening support services for victims.

Nenden (left) represented SAFEnet at the 26th Anniversary of Komnas Perempuan (16/20/2024) 

“This award means a lot to us. It’s proof of our efforts over the past few years in supporting victims of gender-based violence online,” said Nenden.

Over the last few years, SAFEnet has become a dedicated partner of Komnas Perempuan in handling cases of gender-based violence in the digital sphere, providing a safe space for victims and ensuring they receive the support they need.

“Our scope of work reaches beyond national level, comprising civil organizations in Southeast Asia as well as around the world. We are open to collaborations with those who share the same concern over digital rights,” he added.

After nearly half a decade in the field, Nenden believed that digital rights are an inseparable part of modern life. To her, technology has two sides, on one hand, it can serve as a tool for liberation, while on the other, it has the potential to be misused as a tool of oppression. This conviction drives Nenden to continue her fight, committed to ensuring that technology is used for the common good and not as a means of suppression.

Now serving as the Executive Director of SAFEnet, Nenden is at the forefront of advocating for digital rights in Indonesia. She is entrusted with leading various initiatives to educate the public on the importance of digital rights protection and to push for more inclusive and just policies.

Nenden frequently highlighted the significant challenges still facing digital rights in Indonesia. Among these are the low level of public awareness and government policies that are often not supportive of these rights.

Earlier this year, Nenden decided to pursue a Master's in Political Sciences at Diponegoro University. She made this decision to deepen her understanding of political dynamics and public policy, which are highly relevant to her role in digital rights advocacy. “Digital rights advocacy will be a crucial path that I have chosen as part of my efforts to nurture democracy,” she said.

Writer: Genis Dwi Gustati

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid

Designer: Salsabila Kamila Wardah