Lawful Interception

The issue of Lawful Interception (LI), or legally sanctioned wiretapping, sits at the fragile intersection of national security demands and the constitutional imperative to protect civil liberties in modern democratic architecture. Utilising a normative legal research and socio-political analysis approach, this study addresses the fundamental challenge of balancing the state’s need for signal intelligence (SIGINT) with citizens’ rights to privacy and communication. The analysis covers the complex technical framework, the oversight legal models (judicial, dualistic,and parliamentary), and the profound socio-political implications. The findings indicate that the misuse of LI transforms the security tool into a mechanism of social control, producing a detrimental “chilling effect” on free expression, targeting democratic actors, and eroding public trust. The conclusion emphasises the urgent need for a Single, Comprehensive National Interception Law (UU LI), mandatory judicial authorisation, and the establishment of an Independent LI Oversight Body to restore democratic legitimacy and protect the constitutional right to data security, particularly within Indonesia’s fragmented regulatory landscape.