Google Indonesia Wants To Eradicate Disinformation In Order To Maintain Democracy

Google continues to maintain its commitment to organizing various information in the world so that it can be accessed by the whole community. In line with this determination, Google and YouTube work together to eradicate disinformation in supporting the democratic process.

Google and YouTube realize that rapid digital transformation can be a serious problem ahead of the General Election (Pemilu) which will be held in 2024. With this awareness, it is necessary to have good collaboration from various parties.

Director of Government Relations and Public Policy of Google Indonesia Putri Alam said that her company has collaborated with the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) since 2019. This collaboration certainly has helped Google in maintaining more credible information.

Although they have been working together for a long time, Google and YouTube now want to achieve a new goal, namely increasing their focus on eradicating disinformation with wider coverage.

"In the 2024 election, we want to further improve our commitment through our various partnership programs and products," said Putri at the #YukPahamiPemilu event on Wednesday, September 20.

Through partnership programs carried out, Google and YouTube want to protect users of these two platforms from harmful and illegal content. In addition, Google will increase their ability to select information and create a safer internet by maintaining cybersecurity.

When asked about the verification flow when sorting credible information, Putri replied that Google and YouTube have clear community guidelines, namely gross violation of content that contains disinformation and is harmful to users.

"Our community guideline is for disinformation, of course it will be updated, adapting to the background and real conditions, and we are also advised by our colleagues," explained Putri.

Meanwhile, Google Indonesia Brand Marketing Manager, Muriel Makarim, explained that Google and YouTube are implementing pre-bunking methods to educate users about the disinformation tactics that are often spread. With this method, the public is expected to be able to examine information first and not immediately disseminate uncertain information.

Not only that, Google also provides funds to MAFINDO to run Tular Nalar in building critical thinking communities. With this program, it is hoped that the public will be more open to information and stop spreading false information or hoaxes.