We missed this earlier Indonesia has temporarily blocked internet services in Papua and surrounding areas on August 21, to restore "security and order" amidst the ongoing protests in West Papua. On August 23, the Indonesia Ministry of Communications and IT said that the internet services will continue to remain blocked until the situation in Papua returns to normal. The internet speed was reduced prior to the blackout. Telephone calls and text messages have not been blocked. It is unclear whether the internet suspension has been lifted. According to a Guardian report from August 26, internet services may remain suspended for another week to prevent the spread of “fake news”. Protests in Papua began in mid-August when Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, were allegedly mistreated by police and also abused racially. According to media reports, the protests took place in Jakarta, Bali, Papuan towns of Jayapura, Timika, Sarong and Fakfak. Around 1200 polices have been deployed to control the crowd who allegedly set markets ablaze and destroyed shops. "To speed up the process of restoring the security and order situation in Papua and West Papua, the Ministry of Communication and Information once again urged citizens throughout the country not to participate in distributing and transmitting electronic information that is still in doubt or that is indicated by hoax or incitement that can cause hatred and animosity based on ethnic groups, religion, race and class," the statement on August 23 noted. Indonesia's had earlier placed a 3-day curb on social media following Indonesian…
