Garuda Indonesia just sued a video blogger for posting pictures of his business class menu. This it not a joke.
Rius Vernandes is a popular YouTube and Instagram vlogger in Indonesia. Last week, he posted a video of a handwritten menu on his flight from Sydney to Bali with the caption, “The menu is still being printed, sir.” This was part of a “trip report” video that took a fairly critical look at his flight.
Garuda Indonesia went ballistic over the handwritten menu picture, firing off a pair of defensive tweets:
We would like to convey that this wasn’t a menu card for passengers, but a personal note for flight attendants that wasn’t supposed to be published. Thank you.
That doesn’t seem right to me. Instead, it looks like a proactive flight attendant who took some (appreciated) initiative when no menus were boarded. While it is unprofessional not to board menus, gestures like this should be lauded, not condemned.
We don’t know how he could get his hands on it. And if it was the menu card, other passengers should’ve gotten it either but no one shared it [other than him]. The question is where he obtained it from and why he’s sharing it, saying that it’s the menu card.
Oooh, a conspiracy against Garuda Indonesia. The vlogger must be up to no good!
Garuda also issued a memo to cabin crew, translated by One Mile at a Time, implementing an onboard photo and video ban.
Following up on directives from management, all cabin crew are informed as follows:
- Not allowed to document all activities on the plane, whether in the form of photos or videos by cabin crew or passengers.
- Cabin crew must use language that is assertive in conveying the passenger ban for point 1 above except that they have obtained a permit from the company
- The company will sanction if there is a violation of the above provisions
Thus it is conveyed to be known and implemented consistently. Thank you for your attention and cooperation. Enjoy your duty.
This sparked immediate outrage and was partially rescinded. A Garuda spokesperson later added:
Passengers can take photos for personal use such as selfies as long as they do not inconvenience other passengers.
It still doesn’t sound like Garuda wants travel bloggers on their flights…
Garuda Indonesia Sues Vlogger
Yesterday, Rius reported on Instagram:
We’ve been reported for defamation. I’m sure you know I had no intention whatsoever to defame anyone. I hope you can support me because I don’t want anyone to be prosecuted for an honest review and constructive criticism.
Rius received a police summons in connection with his posts. Now police have confirmed that Garuda Indoneisa has filed suit against Rius.
This story has just gone from surreal to downright criminal, and I’m not talking about the charges against Rius.
We live in the age of social media. There is no expectations of privacy onboard an aircraft. More importantly, blogs like mine or vlogs like the one above from Rius are critical in helping consumers make informed choices about where to spend their money or miles. These platforms perform a public service, even if it is a #firstworldproblem public service…
Garuda Indonesia will live to regret this day. In fact, I’m considering a Garuda review next week…no joke. Garuda, you’ve been warned.
> Review: Garuda 777-300ER First Class Jakarta – Amsterdam
CONCLUSION
And of course we see the Streisand Effect in full force here…Garuda Indonesia has hurt itself far more than it helped itself through this blundered handling of Ruis.
image: YouTube / Rius Vernandes
While I completely agree that the legal part of this story is absurd and makes no sense, I also believe (and agree with you) that the caption made it out like he was slamming the airline for their hand-written menu. This would have been a nice touch for me, as most of the time things seem so automated and bland.
That’s exactly what the vlogger said on his complete videos: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=HlbzykPHXgM.
“The warm and personal human touch makes us understand and accept the hand-written menu, it makes impossible for us to be mad.”
He was just stating the fact, and reviewing the flight service, just like all the other airlines he reviewed before.
A big mistake by Garuda. National embarrassment.
“These platforms perform a public service, even if it is a #firstworldproblem public service…”
-Absolutely correct. Its amazing how much detailed information I can get about an airline/flight/service/hard-product before taking my flight now. It helps me make my buying decision and also enables me to better prepare for a flight. This is an asinine decision by Garuda.
I would love for Skyteam to post a statement over this. This is just loco nuts!
I posted a very negative review of a car service to Viator/TripAdvisor yesterday. I kept it factual, which I can prove via e-mails and phone records. Nevertheless, I prefaced the review by saying it consisted of my personal opinions based on my experience. I did so out of concern for a potential defamation case.
I understand Indonesian and have read the multiple statements made by Garuda, read top Indonesian newspapers online, and watched the entire video regarding this matter.
Background: Freedom of speech is a relatively new thing in Indonesia. Understandably it can be abused and has been abused, so to keep things under control the government issued laws/regulations regarding defaming others. Unfortunately, many people are abusing these new laws and are using it against anyone who says anything they don’t like to hear. Some people are bullying others for personal and political gain by alleging violations of the law by people who say things they don’t like hearing. It’s very easy now for anyone who is not happy to file a police report claiming defamation.
What I think happened: There are some people who seek political and personal advancement by “defending the country’s honor” from anyone who dares to state anything that is not positive about the country. When these people (there were a bunch of them) learned about this post they went ballistic and took offense and accused the vlogger of being unpatriotic and anti-Indonesian for posting something that could be construed as portraying the national carrier in a negative light. I found their comments and outrage disgusting, but it must have pressured or influenced some people at Garuda to file a police complaint due to the rabid reactions of some people claiming to be “defending the honor of the country”.
This is all very stupid and the overwhelming social media posts in Indonesia have condemned and mocked Garuda for this embarrassing behavior. It has been a complete PR disaster for Garuda in Indonesia that will cost them a lot of business and embarrassment. It has also caused many people to air their complaints about their experience with the airline and it has done nothing but damaged their most important market.
>Understandably it can be abused and has been abused
… and statements like this is why you’re poor.
Thank you Jason
Ola! I see what you did there….
Based on what I understand so far, the FA tried to help him with the menu, in the absence of the official menu list. I think it was a nice self initiative gesture from the FA. However I havent heard whether Garuda apologise for the absence of the menu list (and for some beverages which also not available, that as I also heard).
There were some articles or instagram post in Indonesian news /the said vlogger that said the vlogger was summoned to Garuda’s office so that Garuda can apologise formally for the handwritten menu. At that point the vlogger commented that he was confused, because he didn’t even mad for the incident.
This incident taught us that what some find to be friendly, humane and comforting may be considered as offensive, even far as criminal defamation by others. Not just one particular culture or nation, but may happen anywhere else in the world
Garuda is now saying that the company didn’t lodge a police report but rather “union employees” did, as per ABC Australia web report.
Striesand Effect?
As of July 19 the matter has been resolved and all charges and complaints have been withdrawn against the blogger. Garuda has also withdrawn any prohibition or rules against taking photos and videos on their planes (as long as it does not intrude on the privacy of other passengers or interfere with the operation of the flight and crew of course).
I travel more than 170k miles per annum. Always in J and always paid for. I really dislike digital gonads walking up and down the cabin filming. More than once I have asked the crew to ask the pillock to refrain from doing this. Delighted when the crew on one airline asked him to delete the video and photos. There IS personal space on a plane and that should not be invaded at any time without my permission. It is plain wrong – and also legally wrong of you – to state there should be no expectation of privacy on a plane.
And has been rightfully pointed out, the suit was filed by the Union – not the airline.