JAKARTA - The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) of the Metro Jaya Police has dismantled an organized digital propaganda syndicate that spreads false news (hoaks), slander, and provocation on social media.
Dirreskrimum Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Iman Imanuddin explained that in the disclosure, the police managed to arrest and detain eight suspects.
"Currently, in its entirety, whether it's the fund manager, the project provider, the content creator, the content distributor, the manager and owner of the account, we have all taken security or arrests," said Iman at a press conference reported by ANTARA, Monday, July 27.
He explained that the illegal actions carried out by this syndicate had disturbed social, economic, political, and security and public order (kamtibmas) situations.
"In carrying out its activities, this syndicate is divided into five organized roles, namely recruiters and financiers, content creators, content spreaders, content uplifters (boosters), to massive spreaders (blasting)," he said.
From the results of the investigation of the Subdit Jatanras Ditreskrimum Polda Metro Jaya, six suspects who are currently being held at the Metro Jaya Police Detention Center.
"Meanwhile, the other two suspects who have been appointed are G, who played a role in offering a digital propaganda project, and S, who acted as a graphic designer," he said.
In addition to arresting the suspects, investigators also seized evidence in the form of 11 mobile phones, two laptops, one iPad, two flash drives containing propaganda content, and cash amounting to IDR 220 million which was allegedly used as payment for the project.
For their actions, the suspects were charged with Article 32 in conjunction with Article 48 of Law Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law No. 11/2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE), with a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp. 2 billion.
"In addition to the ITE Law, investigators are also exploring the potential application of the Personal Data Protection Law (PDP) and the article on corruption (Articles 603 and 604 of the Criminal Code) if evidence of the use of state funds for ordering the propaganda project is found," said Iman.
Polda Metro Jaya also appeals to the public to wisely use social media by prioritizing ethics, and always verifying the truth of information before sharing it in order to maintain a safe, healthy, and productive digital space.
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