During The COVID-19 Pandemic, 8,000 Hoaxes Circulated In Indonesia

Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force Reisa Broto Asmoro/ Antara

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force, Reisa Broto Asmoro, said that the government had clarified around 8,000 fake news or hoaxes about the COVID-19 pandemic circulating in the community.

"My days are fighting hoaxes. There are 8,000 hoaxes related to COVID-19. Some sources have been made by including credible media. Now the intentions are getting worse," he said in a talk show at the Antara Editorial Office, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, June 8th.

According to Reisa, all the fake news has been handled by the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemkominfo) since a year Reisa has served as a government spokesman regarding COVID-19.

The Ministry of Communication and Information has a hoax prevention system known as the Hoax Buster as a channel to neutralize false news circulating in the community.

All false news circulating in the community was then withdrawn by the Kominfo verification team to be clarified, whether it included facts, disinformation or incomplete news.

The clarification statement was then collected on the Hoax Buster channel on the www.covid-19.go.id page.

"The second month I joined as a spokesperson for COVID-19, we had briefings to discuss fake news. The burden is also heavy if the hoax continues every day, so Hoax Buster is made," he said.

Reisa said the Ministry of Communication and Information also specified fake news based on the issues raised, for example related to vaccines, diseases, post-immunization follow-up events (AEFI).

"For example, the issue of the president not being vaccinated, not having a syringe, etc.