TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Netflix's expansion to Indonesia has agitated the Indonesian Censorship Agency (LSF). LSF Chairman Ahmad Yani Basuki, together with the agency's members, held a meeting last Saturday to discuss the online streaming service. "Last Saturday we watched the movies [available on Netflix]," Ahmad said on Monday, January 11, 2016.

During the meeting, Ahmad said that some of the movies provided by Netflix are not appropriate for Indonesian viewers. "There are some movies that we have forbid from being screened in the cinemas," Ahmad said, without mentioning the titles.

Several scenes that must be cut out from a movie before it can be screened in Indonesia include scenes that exhibit violence, gambling, drug abuse, pornography, scenes that may well lead to sectarian conflict, blasphemy, encourage criminal acts, and degrading human rights. Ahmad said too many of the abovementioned scenes in a movie will resulted in a ban.

In relation to Netflix, Ahmad underlined that Law No. 33/2009 on Movie Industry stated that movies that are going to be screened in Indonesia must first obtain a censorship letter from LSF. On the other hand, the American-based online streaming service company is yet to file a request for censorship. "Without the requirement, we will recommend the Communication and Informatics Ministry to block the service," Ahmad said.

Furthermore, Ahmad also said that Netflix has not obtain operating licenses from the Communication and Informatics Ministry. "We reminded [Netflix] if they don’t want to apply for licenses, then don’t enter [Indonesia]," Ahmad concluded.

PINGIT ARIA