Legal Literacy - The democratic space in Indonesia is increasingly open along with the development of digital technology and social media. People now have broad means to express opinions, experiences, and criticisms of the administration of government. Criticism that was previously only heard in limited discussion spaces or mainstream media can now be voiced directly by ordinary citizens through gadgets in their hands. This phenomenon is essentially a sign of healthy democracy because the people dare to speak and oversee power. However, in practice, criticism conveyed by the public is often not accepted as input. On the contrary, criticism is often met with defensiveness, even leading to intimidation.

One example that is widely discussed is the case of a villager who uploaded a video of the condition of a damaged road in his village. In the video, he complained about the poor road infrastructure and questioned the use of village funds, which amounted to a considerable sum. The video went viral and was watched by many people, but instead of receiving an explanation or repairs, the criticism instead led to pressure on the critic by parties who had relations with the village head. This kind of event is not an isolated case. It reflects a broader problem about how criticism is understood by public officials and how the concept of the rule of law and democracy should protect the…