Indonesian Bawaslu Reveals Findings Of 355 Internet Content Violations During The 2024 Election Campaign Period

Member of the Indonesian Bawaslu Lolly Suhenty when giving a statement at the Indonesian Bawaslu Building, Jakarta, (photo: dock. intermediate)

JAKARTA - The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of the Republic of Indonesia has revealed the findings of 355 violations of internet content during the 2024 election campaign period, which took place from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024. According to members of the Indonesian Bawaslu, Lolly Suhenty, the violations consisted of three main categories, namely hate speech, fake news, and politicization of ethnicity, race, religion.

"There are three categories. First, it is a matter of hate speech. Second, it is a matter of fake news. And about politicization of ethnicity, race, religion," said Lolly when explaining at the Indonesian Bawaslu Building, Jakarta, Monday.

Of the 355 content violations, 340 content related to hate speech, 10 content related to SARA politicization, and 5 content related to fake news. Details of these violations include content targeting all pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates, as well as content that attacks election organizers, such as Bawaslu and the General Elections Commission (KPU).

The most violations of internet content were found on the Facebook platform, followed by Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. The Indonesian Bawaslu in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemenkominfo) and social media actors to monitor and take action against these violations.

"We are working with our friends against hoaxes to work hand in hand because the name of the digital world, cyberspace, is extraordinary. There are many norm restrictions," he said.

"For example, friends of social media actors, such as Meta, proactively they always convey 'if there has been a study from Bawaslu, immediately convey it. Let us be able to take down (decrease)'. Now these are the current processes."

In addition, the General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia has also determined the 2024 General Election participants, including the legislative elections (pileg) and the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections (Pilpres). The legislative and presidential elections were held on February 14, 2024, after a campaign period that lasted for several months.

The Indonesian Bawaslu hopes that the social media climate during the calm period of the election remains healthy and invites the public to remain critical and supervise the content circulating on social media.