The Government Must Be Protected Our Youth Generation from Online Gaming Threat

The government plans to assemble a one-stop integrated service that will oversee the re-registering of all internet protocol (IP) addresses in a move it says will strengthen security for all internet users in the country.

The "IP Numbering Forum" would consist of representatives from the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, the Indonesian Internet Providers Association (APJII), internet service providers, the banking sector, universities and other related parties.

"With the forum, we could find out how many IP addresses there are spread across the country so that we can monitor them better. We will meet Pak Rudiantara [the communications and information minister] on July 1 to talk about this forum further," Benyamin Sura, the telecommunications director at the Communications and Information Ministry, said in Jakarta on Monday.

According to Benyamin, internet users, particularly from the banking sector and universities, have often registered their IP addresses directly with the Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) in Australia instead of to APJII.

Hence, the government has found it difficult to monitor the number of internet users nationwide, he added. Meanwhile, APJII secretary-general Henri Kasyfi Soemartono said better registration of IP addresses would help strengthen the government's online security system.

"For instance, if a crime is committed, we could easily locate the criminals by tracking the IP addresses of their cellular phones," Henri said. "Besides, in the future, all products such as smart air-conditioners or refrigerators will have an IP address."

Online Security System

Strengthening our national online security system need to do by the Indonesian government because online security system can guarantee the safetiness our global online system from online hijacking, online bank-fraud, misuse by a terror group and another transnational crimes.
    
But, the government must not be forget related with the misuse of online for destructing our youth generation which can be done by a national and global non-state actor or another circles.
    
Majority and usually, the online games played by school children, the young generation and the unemployment people can be triggered their attitude, a dramatically change their respect to their parents, siblings and relatives.
    
If its bad attitude surrounded by our youth generation, it is more dangerous than narcotics threat and even terrorist threat, because we are know that destroying our youth generation's mind and attitude are a strategic and planted actions from a various circles in Indonesia or another countries to weak the next Indonesia's generation capabilities and their readiness to compete in a globalization and digitalization era.
    
I think the government apparatus including security and law enforcement apparatus must be paid a big attention on these a serious next threat. Furthermore, the government cooperating with all circles from the "IP Numbering Forum" such as the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, the Indonesian Internet Providers Association (APJII), and an internet service providers to make a regulation to ban the internet cafes that open until 24 hours.
    
Controlling to the internet cafes which is open until 24 hours must be implemented because usually in the internet cafes which is open until 24 hours online gaming and the possibilities of another internet or online violation could be happened. Whereas it is also one mode of "modern asymmetrical warfare" to destroy the young generation of Indonesia.

Online Gaming Threat

The online games played by school children and the young generation can also be "poisonous". This activity can last for hours and make the children skipping their meals, their prayer and their study. Some even do not want to go to school. Various sources suggested that the children whose hobby is playing games will have a weak immune system due to lack of physical activity, sitting for too long, it is often too late to eat, often exposed to radiation from the computer screen and so on. Diseases often found in those who are addicted to play online games are including: heart attack, stroke, myopia, obesity, lung disease, a dislocated fingers, neurological disease, hemorrhoids and diseases around the spine.

Psychologically, many scenes in online games demonstrate crime and violence, such as fights, vandalism, rape, murder, and so forth, which indirectly affect a person's subconscious that real life is like in such games. The characteristics of a person experiencing a mental disorder as a result of the influence of online games are: irritability, emotional, easily utter obscenities, cursing, stealing, and so on. The excessive time used for online gaming also can affect a person's self-maturing process, it is marked by some characteristics such as: shy, insecure, lacking in confidence, spoiled and childish. Time wise, online games can affect a child's learning achievement. Online game also teaches extravagance, dishonesty and difficulty of socializing with others.

This problem needs to be attention for parents, also needs to be responded accordingly by the government, particularly the Ministry of Human Development and Culture under Puan Maharani, Ministry of Communication and Informatics and the law enforcement body by creating national policy that limits online game business.

Besides, there need to be a strict monitoring of the internet cafes that open until 24 hours. Playing online games not only destroy the study routines of the children, but also trigger other juvenile delinquencies. It is highly possible that the children, especially those psychologically unstable, apply what they see and experience in the games to the real life in the form of creating motorbike gang, fighting or brawling. Last but not least, online gaming is also one mode of "modern asymmetrical warfare" to destroy the young generation of Indonesia. Beware.

*) The author is the alumni of University of Indonesia Graduate Program and a columnist in various mass media.