In addition, the media should continue to uphold journalistic ethics in writing news.Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - The public should become involved in eliminating hoaxes on social media on account of the detrimental effect of misinformation, Papua Provincial Communication and Informatics Office Head Jery Yudianto stated here, Monday.
Hence, Yudianto lauded the Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI) of Papua that had conducted public training on news literacy to counter the dissemination of misinformation in the region.
"Nowadays, the people are overwhelmed with abundant information, as billions of news are spread through social media," he pointed out.
The office head assessed that the issue has become a challenge for the community. Hence, various regulations had been issued to counter the fake news.
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Yudianto remarked that currently, several people still carelessly spread the news or information they receive without checking the facts.
"We expect that the training activity can be conducted intensely and massively in future to educate the people. Thus, they can recognize which one is reliable information or news," he remarked.
Furthermore, Yudianto is optimistic that the activity's participants would become the agents of change to stop the dissemination of hoaxes in their own closest environment.
"In addition, the media should continue to uphold journalistic ethics in writing news," he emphasized.
He stated that in future, the training activity should also be improved to build a safe, thoughtful, and beneficial digital space.
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The activity held for two days on May 9-10, 2022, was attended by 37 participants from various institutions.
As the use of social media increases during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Communication and Informatics Ministry has found 2,167 hoaxes regarding the pandemic during the period from January 23, 2020, to April 12, 2022.
Drawing attention to Law Number 11 of 2008 on Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE), Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate emphasized that people spreading misinformation will be sentenced to a maximum of six years in jail and imposed a maximum fine of Rp1 billion (US$68.46 thousand).
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Translator: Qadri Pratiwi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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