Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Constitutional Court (MK) has ruled that journalists cannot be directly subjected to criminal or civil charges for lawful journalistic work, reaffirming press freedom and restorative justice principles.

“The Court partially grants the petition,” Chief Justice Suhartoyo said while reading Decision No. 145/PUU-XXIII/2025 on Monday (19/1/2026), as cited by antaranews.com.

The Court held that legal action against journalists may only proceed after mechanisms under the Press Law, such as the right of reply, right of correction, and an ethics review by the Press Council, have been exhausted and fail to reach resolution.

The ruling responded to a judicial review filed by the Indonesian Association of Legal Journalists (IWAKUM) against Article 8 of the 1999 Press Law. 

The Court stressed that disputes arising from journalistic products must prioritize non-penal settlement and legal certainty for reporters acting in good faith. Three justices issued dissenting opinions.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)