"The identification results showed that there were 203 hoax issues, with a total distribution of 2,882 items of content on digital platforms," Kominfo Minister Budi Arie Setiadi noted in a press release from the Kominfo Ministry on Wednesday.
Those 203 issues were found during the period from December 2022 to January 2, 2024.
In detail, the ministry identified 1,325 items of content on Facebook, 947 items on X (formerly Twitter), 198 on Instagram, 342 on TikTok, 36 on SnackVideo, and 34 on Facebook.
“From a total of 2,882 items of content, all have been proposed to be taken down and 1,399 items of content have been taken down, and the rest 1,483 are being followed up,” Setiadi remarked.
The minister further pointed out that in 2023 alone, the ministry had identified 189 issues of election-related hoaxes. The significant increase in the number of issues occurred in November and December 2023.
“A relatively significant increase occurred from November to December 2023 in line with the campaign period of the 2024 General Elections,” he explained.
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To this end, he reminded all parties to play an active role in maintaining the digital space to remain safe and conducive during the 2024 General Elections.
He also appealed to all Indonesians to be prudent in picking news sources and not fall for fake news.
“Let us jointly realize peaceful 2024 General Elections by protecting the digital space and not spread hoax issues,” he emphasized.
In the 2024 General Elections, scheduled for February 14, around 204.8 million Indonesians will elect a president and vice president.
In addition, they will select members of the House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Representative Council (DPD), and the Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) at the province, city, and district levels.
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Translator: Pamela Sakina, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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