Indonesia promotes digital literacy to combat hoaxes and disinformation

Indonesian officials and academics are calling for increased digital literacy to combat the spread of hoaxes, disinformation, and provocative narratives in the digital space.

Puan Maharani, Chairperson of the DPR RI, emphasized the need for users to be critical and mature when consuming information to prevent digital spaces from becoming arenas for hate speech and political polarization. She noted that challenges such as manipulated content and out-of-context videos—including old protest footage repurposed with new narratives—can blur the lines between constructive criticism and provocation.

In Jakarta, Central Jakarta City Secretary Denny Ramdany urged students to act as media literacy agents. Speaking at a seminar hosted by the STIAMI Communication Students Association, Ramdany highlighted that ethical, inclusive, and data-based communication is essential for maintaining social harmony and supporting Jakarta’s development as a global city.