Semarang, June 15, 2025 – As part of a Student Community Service program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata – KKN), a group of Diponegoro University students conducted a legal education program titled “The Balance between Fighting Harassment and Respecting Privacy Space.” The activity was held continuously across several community meetings in Meteseh Village, Tembalang District, Semarang City.
The program was initiated as a form of student contribution to increasing public legal awareness, especially in addressing the rising issue of sexual violence in both public and digital spheres. This education aims to provide a comprehensive understanding that, even when fighting harassment, the public must still observe legal boundaries and respect the privacy rights of other individuals. With a participatory and contextual approach, the legal education within this KKN program demonstrates that small-scale community efforts can be a big step towards a legally aware society that mutually respects individual rights.
One interesting discussion trigger in this activity was the question surrounding the legality of actions to make an alleged perpetrator of harassment viral without a court ruling. This question reflects the public’s anxiety about the disparity in access to formal justice, as well as the societal tendency to use social media as an alternative advocacy space. In response, the presenters emphasized that the fight against harassment must still uphold the presumption of innocence, as stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), and adhere to the legal boundaries outlined in the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE) and the Personal Data Protection Law. Spreading the identity or photo of a perpetrator without a legitimate legal mechanism can lead to new legal violations, including defamation and privacy infringement.
In this context, the existence of Legal Aid Institutions (LBH) becomes highly relevant. LBH plays a strategic role as a bridge between victims and the justice system by providing free legal assistance, educating victims about their rights, and undertaking measured, legally based advocacy efforts. The presence of LBH should serve as the primary reference for victims or witnesses who wish to take appropriate legal action without resorting to social media channels, which are vulnerable to triggering other legal violations. Therefore, this legal education activity also emphasized the importance of building partnerships between the community and local LBH as part of strengthening access to justice that supports victims while respecting legal principles and human rights.
The educational material was delivered in an interactive discussion format, combining a presentation on criminal law related to sexual harassment, personal data protection, and real case examples. The participants, comprising residents, PKK (Family Welfare Movement) cadres, and community leaders, actively provided responses and shared experiences, particularly regarding the dilemmas they faced when encountering harassment cases in their surroundings.