Indonesia And Australia Agree To Fight Hoaxes, Mahfud MD: Anticipate Ahead Of The Election

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD together with Australian Cybersecurity Minister Clare O'Neil agreed to fight hoax misinformation and disinformation.

"Given the interests of our two countries which are quite high on this issue, I think our two countries can collaborate further and implement practical programs such as what Indonesia has done with ASEAN countries," said Mahfud at the 9th Australian-Indonesia Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) meeting in Melbourne, Australia, quoted by ANTARA Tuesday, March 14.

In his statement received in Jakarta, Mahfud explained that misinformation and disinformation have the potential to cause instability, security disturbances, and can even threaten national unity and integrity.

The Indonesian government anticipates an increase in the threat of disinformation and misinformation ahead of the simultaneous general election (election) in 2024. The forms of misinformation and disinformation that spread are hoaxes, fake news, and the tendency to click the misleading verse.

Australia is experiencing the same thing. According to Minister Clare O'Neil, misinformation and disinformation are of particular concern due to the threat of foreign influence in general elections in Australia.

Cybersecurity is also an issue of mutual concern. Both Indonesia and Australia are experiencing cyber attacks and data leakage. The two countries are determined to overcome this, including by increasing bilateral cooperation, exchanging experiences, and good practices.

Mahfud explained that the government is trying to reduce the impact of hoaxes and hate speech that are spread through social media platforms and instant conversations.

The effort was aimed at minimizing and avoiding conflicts as a result of acts of violence triggered by hoax information. There are three steps, namely through law enforcement, involving digital platform organizers, and increasing public education and digital literacy to build community resilience to misinformation.

"Indonesia views the importance of cooperation with various parties to increase capacity in dealing with the threat of misinformation and disinformation which is of common concern," said Mahfud.

In the context of the Chairship of ASEAN 2023, said Mahfud, the Indonesian government has submitted a proposal for drafting guidelines against fake news and disinformation in the media for government officials to the ASEAN Secretariat.

"It is hoped that this guideline can be a reference for ASEAN member countries in developing guidelines or strategies for handling hoaxes in their respective countries," he said.