Govt Identifies 1,645 Election Hoaxes
Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara signs an exhibition poster at the 2018 Kilas Balik photo exhibition and book launch in Antara Photo Journalism Gallery, Jakarta, Friday (26/4).
Indonesia faced a significant increase in hoaxes circulation during the 2019 simultaneous general elections as Ministry of Communication and Informatics identified 1,645 hoaxes from August 2018 to 25 April 2019.
“We have identified and counteracted 1,645 hoaxes from last August,” Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara said at the Kilas Balik photo exhibition in Antara Photo Journalism Gallery, Jakarta, Friday (26/4).
Rudiantara explained that the number of hoaxes relating to the general elections escalated month after month. In August 2018, the Ministry identified 25 hoaxes, while in December, the numbers tripled to 75 hoaxes. The number of hoaxes in January, February, and March 2019 were 175, 353, and 453 respectively. As of 25 April 2019, there were 421 hoaxes found.
“If the hoaxes keep escalating, we truly are living in a less ethical, less civilized era,” Rudiantara said.
Throughout the presidential campaign period, since August 2018, the Ministry found hoaxes aimed at both candidates, Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto. The Ministry counted as many as 341 hoaxes on both candidates during the campaign period in August 2018 to April 2019.
“The hoaxes aimed at the presidential candidates still increased after the voting day,” Rudiantara said.
Ahead of the General Elections Commission (KPU) official announcement on 22 May, he expressed his hope that the people will no longer spread hoaxes.
“I hope that after the presidential election, the number of hoaxes will decrease, but in my estimation, the number (of hoaxes) in April will be higher. This April, we should tackle all the circulating hoaxes. (Hoaxes) are not good for us,” he said.
For the record, Kilas Balik 2018 showed a series of events recorded throughout 2018, ranging from earthquakes in Lombok and Palu, Sunda Strait tsunami, Lion Air JT-610 plane accidents, Asian Games and Asian Paragames 2018, to a ‘democratic fiesta’ of 2019. The exhibition was coordinated by National News Agency Antara, involving 78 photojournalists from Antara as well as the officials of 2018 Asian Games and Asian Paragames photographers.
Also present during the event was Chairman of the KPU Arief Budiman. (Ministry of Communication and Informatics Public Relations/ES)
Translated by : Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Edited by : Ridwan Ibadurrohman, Yuyu Mulyani
