Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Communication and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi expressed his ministry's readiness to tackle contents related to hoaxes and radicalism in the digital space ahead of the holding of the 2024 general elections.

Setiadi remarked that the ministry is aiming to make the upcoming elections productive and beneficial for the nation.

"We will coordinate with various parties to identify contents that contain hoaxes and narratives of radicalism," he noted in a press release on Thursday.

Minister Setiadi said he is committed to establishing coordination with related ministries and agencies in a bid to make the upcoming fiesta of democracy free from negative contents usually disseminated on social media.

Speaking in connection with the efforts to tackle radicalism, the minister remarked that his side will be coordinating with the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

"I will meet with the Ministry of Religious Affairs to discuss this matter. If necessary, we will even block sources that spread hoaxes that pose threats to the nation's unity. Such a step can be taken to maintain conduciveness in the digital space," he affirmed.

Furthermore, he stated that elections are meant to unite the nation and contribute to the efforts in improving the quality of democracy in the country.

Hence, he invited communities to play an active role in protecting the digital space by spreading positive contents.

The minister then promised that the government will take humane measures to safeguard the digital space while maintaining a conducive situation ahead of the upcoming elections.

"The government has been making efforts to realize and preserve the conducive atmosphere in the digital space, including on social media," he concluded.

Currently, the ministry is promoting its narrative of Pemilu Damai, or peaceful elections, as an effort to raise the people's awareness of the dangers of political hate speeches circulating on social media that can lead to division in the nation.

The narrative is especially focused on educating first-time voters, mostly people from Generation Z, to help them gain a better understanding of peaceful elections.

Translator: Livia K, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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