Komdigi Must Be More Firm to Guard Digital Space from Hoaxes and Disinformation

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - The Secretary General of the Pasbata Sri Budianto assessed that the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) needed to increase its firmness in maintaining the national digital space.

The rampant spread of hoaxes, disinformation, slander, and narrative wars in social media has been assessed to have reached an alarming level and has the potential to disrupt national unity.

According to the Secretary General of Pasbata, the state must not allow the digital space to be filled with information that is deliberately twisted, manipulated, or spread without a clear basis.

"We ask Komdigi to act more decisively. Digital patrols must be strengthened and carried out consistently. Indonesia's digital space must not be allowed to become a place for hoaxes, slander, and propaganda that mislead the public," he said.

Pasbata also asked Komdigi to coordinate with law enforcement to trace accounts that are suspected of being in the name of the media or using identities like news media, but disseminate inaccurate, manipulative, or illegal information.

"If there is any suspected violation of the law, process it according to the applicable laws and regulations. Law enforcement must be carried out fairly, transparently, and without discrimination in order to have a deterrent effect," he said.

The Secretary General of Pasbata emphasized that the appeal was not an attempt to limit the freedom of the press or the freedom of the public to express their opinions.

Criticism based on facts is an important part of democracy.

However, democracy should not be used as an excuse to spread hoaxes, slander, or misleading information.

"Freedom of expression must go hand in hand with responsibility. What must be protected is the public's right to obtain correct, complete, and accountable information," he said.

He reminded that the community has been faced with a narrative that divides each other for too long.

"We are tired of being pitted against each other by fellow countrymen through information that is not necessarily true. Don't let social media become an arena of conflict built on hoaxes and provocations. It's time for all elements of the nation to unite," he said.

Pasbata invites all people to be more careful in receiving information and not easily trusting unverified content.

"This nation has a big challenge that must be solved together. National energy should be directed to escorting the President's priority programs, strengthening unity, and encouraging development, not constantly exhausting it to serve a narrative war that is not based on facts," he said.

At the end of his statement, the Secretary General of Pasbata emphasized that maintaining the digital space is a shared responsibility.

"The state must be present to maintain a healthy digital space. Law enforcement against the spread of hoaxes and disinformation must be carried out professionally and based on the law. The Indonesian people have the right to accurate, balanced, and reliable information, so that the digital space becomes a means of uniting the nation, not a tool to divide society," he concluded.