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In late 2016, Oxford Dictionaries selected “post-truth” as the word of the year, defining it as “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief” or, well-known as fake news or misinformation.
The proliferation of fake information on digital media platforms is on the rise. This trend is not unique to Indonesia. However, nearly all societies worldwide are facing threats from fake news dissemination. The expansion of the online realm and increased connectivity among people have contributed to the persistence of misinformation. This issue is envisioned to persist as more individuals connect in various ways.
The challenges posed by misinformation are complex. It can manipulate public opinion, disrupt democratic processes, and undermine trust in public institutions. The anonymity, speed, and efficiency of digital platforms make it challenging to combat the spread of disinformation, which can sow confusion, provoke conflict, and fragment civil society.
Deputy Minister of Communication and Informatics, Nezar Patria, stated that in the face of the increasing spread of false information, enhancing the government’s strategic communication capacity plays a crucial role in combating this issue. He even mentioned that this would have a significant impact if it were supported by intergovernmental cooperation.
“We can use the knowledge and relationships we have gained here to advance the field of strategic communication further. Together, let us create a more informed, connected, and resilient global community in this digital era,” he said when opening the International Strategic Communication Workshop Series in Central Jakarta.
According to Deputy Minister Nezar Patria, government institutions’ capacity can be enhanced through discussions, training, and workshops. Additionally, Minister Nezar explained that several strategies had been proposed to counter the effects of misinformation. These include developing digital literacy programmes, using algorithms and social systems to filter out misinformation, and implementing policies and regulations to hold bad actors accountable.
“Formulating solutions to address the challenges of information disruption. The implementation of workshops will be a concrete manifestation of intergovernmental cooperation and an opportunity for substantial and beneficial discussions,” he said.
Minister Nezar is even optimistic that the cooperation between the Government of Indonesia and the United Kingdom can serve as a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences in advancing the field of strategic communication.
In 2023, OpenGov Asia reported extending the cooperation agreement between the UK and Indonesia. Through the State Cyber and Cryptography Agency (BSSN) of Indonesia, an agreement was made to establish cooperation in cybersecurity with the government of the United Kingdom through the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
The collaboration was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cyber Security Cooperation between the Head of BSSN, Hinsa Siburian, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Oliver Dowden, at the BSSN office in Depok.
This meeting generated eight areas of cooperation – National Cyber Strategy Development and Implementation, Cyber Threat Landscape, Cyber Governance, Government and Industry Partnership, Incident Management, Cybercrime, Promotion of Cybersecurity Awareness, Capacity Building through Experience Exchange and Best Practices, and Research on Cybersecurity.
In line with Minister Nezar Patria, Deputy Head of Mission and Deputy Ambassador of the UK to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Matthew Downing, stated that many challenges are faced by governments related to the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Since 2024 is an election year for more than 10 countries worldwide, misinformation and fake news will become major issues. “This includes the existence of Generative AI that allows information content to be produced quickly and massively,” he said.
Matthew Downing said that implementing government strategic communication is significant in overcoming the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Therefore, the UK government appreciates holding workshops to enhance strategic communication capacity as a continuation of cooperation between the UK and Indonesian governments.
“The capacity for strategic communication and responses to disinformation must continue to be improved so that the Government can build credibility and always provide reliable information,” explained Matthew Downing.
