Govt Identifies 175 Hoaxes in January 2019
Ministry of Communication and Informatics has identified 175 hoaxes circulated in the internet and social media in January 2019. The highest number of hoax content was found on 22 January 2019 with 11 content.
Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Ferdinandus Setu, in his press release on Tuesday (5/2) stated that the monitoring of internet and social media content was carried out by the Directorate of Internet Content Control of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics. He also said that the average hoax production is four to six hoaxes per day.
“In January 2019, there were 81 hoaxes or disinformation related to General Election, including about containers of ballots at Tanjung Priok, PKI (Communist Party of Indonesia), diplomas, and hand symbols, Ferdinandus said.
He added that other hoaxes were suicide in Sukorajo, coming back to life after death, 60% cash back for tuition fee payment using OVO application, LGBT issues, appointment of Non-Tenured Teachers as Civil Servants, Vehicle Registration Numbers and Job Vacancies in Hospitals.
Hoaxes on religious affairs included Ughyur Muslims, Friday Prayers Ban in Chinese Companies and Kyai Said Aqil Siradj remarks at the NU Muslimat internal event, while hoaxes on natural disasters were strong wind in Ancol, 8 Richter scale Earthquake Potential, Katulampa Flooding and earthquake in West Java, Ferdinandus said.
He added that hoaxes on food found in January 2019 were salt which cannot be cooked, leeches in water spinach, cancer-causing instant noodles and ice cream containing lard. He also said that there were many hoaxes about President Joko Widodo, Ahok, and Ustadz Arifin Ilham circulated in January.
Related to technology, the hoaxes were keychain GPS tracker, swollen eyes caused by cellphones and SMS blocking.
On the occasion, Ferdinandus appealed the public and users of social media as well as users of instant messaging applications not to spread hoaxes in any form.
“If you find information containing hoaxes, you can report it through content.id or @aduankonten account,” Ferdinandus concluded. (Humas Kominfo/ES)
Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Mia Medyana
