Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

Submission Preview

Link to Story

Indonesia Moves To Ban LGBT Emojis On Messaging Apps

Accepted submission by Anonymous Coward https://thestack.com/ at 2016-02-12 09:38:38
News
The Indonesian government has this week demanded that instant messaging apps available in the country remove all same-sex emoticons [thestack.com] from their platforms, or face heavy sanctions. While homosexuality is not illegal in the country, it remains a controversial issue in the Muslim-dominated country. Now in the latest effort to crackdown on gay rights, Indonesian authorities want to ban emojis, stickers and emoticons which depict same-sex couples, the rainbow flag, and any symbol that symbolises the lesbian, bay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Apps that have been targeted by the demands include the popular Asian messaging app LINE, Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter. The Indonesian Communication and Information Ministry added that a particular concern was that children would find the bright coloured stickers appealing.

Original Submission