Creation Of Cyber Army Being Studied: Minister

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The establishment of a cyber army to deal with cyber attacks has been studied, as part of the creation of a cyber agency, Chief Security Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated.

"It could happen. There are many studies on it, and we are awaiting the report from the team at the end of next month," he said here on Friday.

According to the minister, the existence of specialized institutions dealing with cyberspace is critical, as Indonesia faces high intensity cyber attacks every day.

Therefore, the government has formed a special team that is tasked to review the cyber agency and will report their results in late September or early October 2015.

"The results of the team's work will be reported in late September or early October. We will see the results, and it could form a cyber army or national cyber agencies," Pandjaitan remarked.

The operation of the cyber agency, he added, will be directly under the president. "Yes, under the president. But I do not know if, in the future, the president would place it in a ministry," he affirmed.

The Chief Security Minister also revealed that he is cooperating with Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara in the establishment of a cyber agency.

Pandjaitan realized that defense institutions, such as the army, have had a special division that handles cyber attacks. But the government wanted a permanent agency that focuses only on cyber defense.

The minister also emphasized that national cyber security will not be used as a tool of the government to spy on citizens.

"The government will not spy on its own citizens. The agency only will anticipate cyber attacks to prevent the possibility of the shut down of state information," he added.

He also explained that the United States has experienced cyber attacks that caused government data to be stolen, causing the White House to cease operating for one hour.

"Because of that, the cyber agency is super critical," he added.  (WDY)