The Global Communication Ethnics Crisis In The Digital Era As A Challenge To International Law -By Gangga Anakda Makmur

This polemic initially started from the Day6 concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on January 31, 2026. In the event, there is a rule prohibiting the use of cameras or any video devices in the venue. The offense was committed by a native of South Korea. This triggered a response from other K-pop communities. Fans are divided.

Malaysian fans responded that they should as fans respect the host’s rules. But the response was not well received by South Korean fans who reacted defensively. They prioritize the ethics of uploading photos of someone’s face without permission because according to them it is considered a violation of a person’s privacy. This has penetrated to netizens in almost all ASEAN Regions, such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Netizens’ debate in the media on the issue of racism until the occurrence of “BOIKOT” boycotted South Korean products, even giving bad ratings to tourist attractions in South Korea that were marketed on social media.

The fan war on social media has had a huge impact on South Korea, especially in the tourism sector and the K-pop and K-drama industry which has reached billions. Many ticket cancellations were made by spectators and K-pop enthusiasts.

In this case, it can have a negative impact on the quality of South Korean netizens, this can happen because the racism not only attacks ASEAN citizens physically but also culture, especially Indonesia. In one of the posts on twitter which described gorillas and monkeys as equivalent to ASEAN people, especially Indonesia. In addition, the issue of systemic racism in South Korea has indeed been in the spotlight or discrimination issue several times.

That in May 2025, the UN Human Rights Ombudsman highlighted a very wide increase in online or offline racism. But from the current racism polemic, there is no independent international media or international human rights experts who discuss or highlight this issue.

Cases of racism on social media involving Indonesian citizens, leave a fundamental question about who is responsible for the losses of the Korean Tourism industry.

This case is an example of a global communication ethics crisis in the digital era; What is meant in this case is the use of media that makes it easier to communicate between countries or continents, but with the development of this digital world, there are many negative impacts that cause division as referred to due to the lack of interaction in real life due to dependence on social media, different views arise and make it a negative stigma. This reflects that the development of technology in this digital era is very influential for each user, besides that in him the change of habits that make a habit change is very significant.

In this case, it can be seen from the case of racism in the digital world, therefore the author takes a view in accordance with Indonesian culture which since time immemorial still holds and upholds good ethics and civility in the public square, in the intention of prioritizing empathy in the event of a disaster and supporting each other, for now there are still quite a lot of Indonesian people using good language in social media, but not all social media users in Indonesia prioritize manners in issuing opinions in the public space digitally. Many of them misuse this digital space as a means of their freedom of expression. But here the importance of being a wise netizen, still prioritizes manners, just like when doing activities in daily life. That way, manners and ethics are always present in every activity, when living life as usual or in a digital public space.

Especially in Indonesia, in speaking in the digital public space, there are also binding restrictions for those who use them, namely the existence of laws or (Social Engineering) that apply. The law not only regulates society when carrying out activities in daily life, but the law is based on the principle of “Lex Posterior Derogat Legi Piori” which is the principle where the newer law equalizes the older law, meaning that the law always develops according to the movement of the dynamics of society, besides that the law develops until the digital world can be called the ITE Law (Electronic Transaction Law); which regulates the procedures for expression so that in the public environment in the digital form it runs based on ethics and manners and based on Pancasila.

In the application of ethics with traditional values, it is very good to improve the quality of good qualities. But in applying these values, it must be wise, but by applying these values, it requires a good understanding, with the intention of being able to make these values a quality value for their culture.

This case can serve as an example that this is a challenge for international law in dealing with systemic racism. Especially in the protection of international human rights, in enforcing the law in the world of social media it is very vague or gray. This is supported by the interpretation and application of the law on social media, it needs to be explored, “why is that?” because the law has territorial boundaries according to which the law is recognized and enforced.

In social media, it is a liquid space, the meaning of “liquid” because every user is free to create and do what the user wants, outside of the rules that are generally the creator of the application or media. As an affirmation that the law will remain valid as long as it follows the development of technology and civilization.

Gangga Anakda Makmur

Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia