The step is taken to ensure that the digital space remains conducive and free from cyberattacks ahead of the elections.
"We ask them to strengthen their system. Because the ones who are responsible to protect the platforms' data and services security are the platforms themselves," the ministry's Director General of Public Information and Communication, Usman Kansong, stated when contacted by ANTARA on Wednesday.
He cited as an example that one of the ministry's efforts was carrying out coordination when the name of one of the vice presidential candidates, Mahfud Md, could not be searched on X (formerly Twitter).
The ministry immediately followed up on the report and urged the platform organizer to restore the condition.
He stated that X immediately responded to the situation, and currently, the name can be searched by the platform's users again.
"Thus, what the Kominfo Ministry does is asking them, social media (platform operators) to anticipate those things," he remarked.
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The same measure will also be applied for the last presidential debate that is scheduled for Sunday, February 4, 2024.
Social media platform operators are urged to maintain accessibility of their platforms for the community to express their opinions.
"There should be no problems, just like the previous debates. The attitude of platforms towards the candidates and platforms, as means for expressing aspirations and comments, remain open," he remarked.
Indonesia will hold the 2024 General Elections on February 14, 2024, in which around 204.8 million voters are expected to participate. The campaigning period for the elections started on November 28, 2023, and will end on February 10, 2024.
During the elections, Indonesians will choose a president and vice president as well as members of the House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Representatives Council (DPD), and Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) at the provincial, city, and district levels.
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Translator: Livia Kristianti, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
