Criminal Law Enforcement against Ratu Entok’s Religious Blasphemy by the North Sumatra Regional Police

Abstract

This study aims to comprehensively analyze the implementation of criminal law enforcement in the religious blasphemy case committed by the social media celebrity Irfan Satria Putra Lubis, alias Ratu Thalisa, alias Ratu Entok, through the TikTok platform, and to identify the factors influencing the effectiveness of that enforcement within the jurisdiction of the North Sumatra Regional Police (Polda Sumut). The massive development of information technology has shifted patterns of social interaction into digital space, which on the one hand guarantees freedom of expression but on the other hand may trigger electronic information and transaction offenses containing ethnic, religious, racial, and inter-group (SARA) elements. Using a juridical-empirical legal research method with a statutory approach, this study examines the stages of law enforcement from the investigation level at the police. The results show that Polda Sumut, through its Cyber Investigation Directorate, has carried out its law enforcement function progressively and transparently through the naming of a suspect, arrest, and detention on suspicion of violating Article 45A paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 28 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions, as well as Article 156a of the Criminal Code. This enforcement is influenced by five factors, namely the legal factor, law enforcement officers, facilities (digital forensics), culture, and public legal awareness. Firm criminal law enforcement can prevent potential conflict in the multicultural society of North Sumatra and also serves as a deterrent for social media users to be more careful.