Indonesia demands Line remove LGBT stickers from its app
And it looks like Line's going to do it.
Indonesia's Information and Communication Ministry spokesman Ismail Cawidu on Thursday has called on social messaging app maker Line to remove a selection of stickers depicting LGBT themes from its online store. While homosexuality isn't technically illegal in Indonesia (outside of the Aceh province), it is a taboo subject in the socially conservative nation. The stickers' presence generated a severe online backlash from the apps users, prompting Cawidu's demand.
Line replied to the enjoiner via Facebook, apologizing for making users "uncomfortable" and promising to remove the offending items in short order. "At Line, we stick to the global benchmark for screening and filtering of content that is sensitive from the perspective of the local culture," the company's Facebook post reads. "Line appreciates all the feedback from users and other parties related to the products and features, and we realize how sensitive this matter is and will work hard to ensure that things like this do not happen again."
The I&C Ministry in turn replied with a post on its own website praising Line's capitulation. "We appreciate their work in addressing things that could potentially cause public unrest, especially the concerns of mothers of children on the negative influence of LGBT stickers," it reads. Yes, please, won't someone think of the children.
