We are trying to improve people's digital literacy so they can protect themselves from becoming victims and spreading hoaxes in society.
Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) has so far removed 165 items of hoax content during the ongoing campaigning period for the General Elections.

Minister of Communication and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi, after attending the "For Indonesians be Smart in Voting" event in Batam on Friday, said that the figure is a reminder for Indonesia that hoaxes are still posing a threat to its democracy even though data has shown a decline in such content compared to 2019.

"From November to January, there were around 165 hoaxes, and we have taken them down," he informed.

He said that as per research results shared by the Safer Internet Lab (SAIL) of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in 2023, more than 42 percent of people in Indonesia were still influenced by and believed in disinformation or hoaxes related to the 2024 General Elections.

To tackle this problem, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics has carried out various initiatives, including the National Digital Literacy Movement.

"We are trying to improve people's digital literacy so they can protect themselves from becoming victims and spreading hoaxes in society," he explained.

The ministry is also carrying out 24-hour cyber patrols to protect the digital space from hoaxes.

"When Kominfo Ministry finds negative content or hoaxes, we immediately follow up by taking them down from the digital space," he said.

He added that his ministry is also issuing clarifications about the hoaxes and leaving a sign on hoax items so that people can avoid them.

The minister then appealed to the community to stay careful and not spread questionable information to others.

Indonesia will hold the General Elections on February 14, 2024, in which around 204.8 million voters are expected to participate. The political campaigning period started on November 28, 2023, and will end on February 10, 2024.

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Translator: Jessica Allifia, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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