MASTEL Proposes National Roadmap to Address Disinformation to Komdigi

MASTEL Chairman Sarwoto Atmosutarno and Minister of Communication and Information Meutya Hafid (photo: MASTEL)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Telematics Society (MASTEL) handed over a Policy Paper Roadmap for Handling Disinformation in Indonesia to the Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid on Wednesday, March 5.

Compiled with BBC Media Action, MASTEL Chairman Sarwoto Atmosutarno said the roadmap aims to encourage the creation of a healthy information ecosystem amid the increasing challenges of disinformation in the digital space.

According to Sarwoto, the issue of disinformation cannot be handled by one party alone, but requires close collaboration between the government, technology industry, media, academics, and civil society.

"This roadmap is not designed to control information, but to create a healthy information ecosystem, so that the public can obtain credible information, media can carry out journalistic functions independently, and digital platforms have clear responsibilities in maintaining the integrity of the digital space," he said.

In his presentation, the Head of the Digital Media and Broadcasting (Digibroadcast) MASTEL Neil R. Tobing explained that disinformation needs to be understood as a systemic phenomenon in the digital ecosystem.

According to him, the spread of disinformation is not only related to incorrect content, but is also influenced by the dynamics of platform algorithms, digital business models, and user behavior in the digital space.

Therefore, its handling requires a more comprehensive approach to digital governance, not just enforcement of content.

In the policy paper, MASTEL proposed five policy pillars to strengthen the resilience of the national information ecosystem, namely digital literacy, fact-checking infrastructure, quality journalism, digital governance, and research and innovation.

MASTEL also encourages a regulatory approach, namely a joint regulatory mechanism between the government, digital platforms, the media industry, and other stakeholders that are considered more adaptive to the dynamics of digital technology, while still upholding the principles of freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and respect for human rights.

MASTEL also proposed the establishment of the National Coordination Council for Handling Disinformation (DKN-PD) as a cross-sector coordination mechanism to coordinate policies and strengthen collaboration between the government, digital platforms, media, academics, and civil society.

The Minister of Communication and Information welcomed this initiative. He stated that a coordinated approach involving all stakeholders was important in fighting disinformation.

"This initiative is very good, especially now that disinformation has been declared as one of the biggest global threats. Therefore, a coordinated approach is needed that involves all stakeholders," said Meutya.