‘Information warriors’ must uphold information integrity in Indonesia

Indonesia urgently needs a clear strategy to respond to the United Nations’ most recent warning about the dangers of ‘information ecosystems’ losing their integrity.

On 25 June 25 2024, the UN issued its Global Principles for Information Integrity, cautioning that the erosion of trustworthy information environments can hinder human rights, peace, prosperity, and a sustainable future for our planet.

This reminder is timely, given that online information manipulation has significantly threatened information integrity in a number of democratic societies in recent years, especially during elections.

Indonesia’s misinformation problem

Indonesia has learned the truth of this the hard way. During the Covid-19 pandemic, from 2020 to 2021, the government and journalists struggled to combat misinformation about baseless cures and conspiracy theories discouraging vaccinations. Those falsehoods spread widely on social media, sowing confusion and fear among the public.

Similarly, during Indonesia’s 2019 presidential election, riots in Jakarta erupted after a conspiracy theory claimed the election, won by the incumbent, President Joko Widodo, was rigged, with the electoral commission’s involvement.

And in December last year, humanitarian groups, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), alleged that hateful disinformation campaigns were behind attacks by hundreds (reportedly, university students) on Rohingya refugees sheltering in a government hall in Banda Aceh.

Among the many types of information manipulation, misinformation and disinformation are particularly concerning. According to the World Economic Forum, misinformation and disinformation are top global risks for 2024 and rank fifth over the next decade, with environmental issues occupying the top four spots. In Indonesia, these are commonly referred to as hoaks, meaning outright falsehoods. However, this term doesn’t cover the evolving content production technologies and strategies that have blurred the lines between outright disinformation, conspiracy theories, and unfounded yet hard-to-debunk propaganda.

These developments are particularly relevant to Indonesia, given the country’s paradoxical high social media usage and low social media literacy levels. On one hand, Indonesia ranks among the top five nations globally for social media usage on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. On the other hand, the general population still lacks media and information literacy. The 2022 Indonesian Digital Literacy Status Survey by the Communication and Informatics Ministry and Katadata Insight Center, which surveyed 10,000 individuals across 34 provinces, found that just 7% felt “very confident” in identifying misinformation, even though 72.6% depend on social media for information, and 71% view misinformation as a serious issue.

The information warriors

These findings suggest that achieving the UN report’s long-term goals requires detailed mapping and cooperative efforts among civil society actors. They need to become Indonesia’s “information warriors,” upholding truth in a system flooded with misinformation, disinformation, and other forms of manipulation. Their mission is increasingly critical, as the problems extend beyond mere political or electoral concerns.

Indonesian journalists are first in line, as their credibility has been jeopardised by information manipulation The 2024 Digital News Report of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found that 59% of respondents were concerned about online content accuracy, up from 56% in 2023. Journalists play a vital role in combating misinformation by sharing with the public their three biggest ‘superpowers’: critical thinking, pursuit of the truth, and commitment to factual accuracy. Dedication to rigorous fact-checking and investigative reporting is also essential for exposing false narratives and holding purveyors of disinformation accountable.

Academics, researchers, and educators are also crucial. Their innate curiosity and scientific acumen are invaluable in investigating harmful information manipulation campaigns and improving media literacy in Indonesia. Educators, meanwhile, can encourage students to explore media and information literacy more deeply, fostering a new generation equipped to discern fact from fiction. Academic institutions can also collaborate with media organisations to conduct research on the effectiveness of various misinformation countermeasures and develop evidence-based strategies for public literacy education.

Health experts must join the ranks too, using their authoritative knowledge to debunk health-related misinformation through science communication. The pandemic is over, but misleading health content still proliferates online, with social media accounts regularly posting deep fake videos misusing clips of public figures to promote dubious medicines. Health experts can leverage their credibility to provide accurate, science-based information and work with fact-checkers, or directly with tech platforms to flag and remove harmful content.

Social media influencers are another vital group. The 2024 Digital News Report cited above shows that influencers receive more attention from netizens than mainstream media. As information warriors, influencers can leverage their large followings and ability to create engaging content for young audiences. They can play a crucial role in spreading accurate information, debunking myths, and promoting media literacy. By partnering with credible sources and organizations, influencers can help bridge the gap between expert knowledge and the public, making accurate information more accessible and relatable.

The question of funding for influencers who work to uphold information integrity may arise and therefore deserves its own spotlight. It is a complex issue, but not an insurmountable one. When influencers collaborate, particularly in arrangements involving financial backing, there’s a chance to tap into resources like media investments through the Media Development Investment Fund, grants from the Poynter Institute’s Global Fact Check Fund, and research grants that allow universities to team up with influencers on public outreach. And influencers must tread carefully to avoid inadvertently aiding disinformation, just like media outlets need to be wary of greenwashing when accepting sponsored reporting opportunities.

Crowdfunding could also become a promising alternative for supporting this multi-actor collaboration dedicated to safeguarding information integrity. Establishing an organisation to manage fundraising efforts on behalf of the movement could help tap into broader societal support. This organisation would be able ensure that funds are distributed effectively to the ‘information warriors’ at the forefront of this effort. To maximise impact, it is crucial to implement a transparent mechanism that ensures the funds are allocated properly and used to achieve their intended goals.

Finally, the government also has a role it play. It has the power to issue relevant policies without compromising the freedom of expression and human rights protected under the Indonesian Constitution, if it so chooses. Key institutions include the Communication and Informatics Ministry, the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry and the Health Ministry – and even the Foreign Ministry, given social media scams targeting Indonesian migrant workers are rampant.

Collaborative efforts

And to fortify and unify these diverse initiatives, collaborative activities like digital investigation training, public communication workshops, and critical thinking education are essential. Constructive events like roundtables can gather insights on future directions and crucial questions, such as whether to focus on fact-checking or developing ‘prebunking’ initiatives, addressing information manipulation at local (and hyperlocal) levels with varying literacy levels, or overcoming new forms of manipulation.

In addition to the media investment fund and grants mentioned above as possible means to support multi-actor efforts, crowdfunding could also become a promising funding alternative. Establishing an organisation to manage fundraising efforts on behalf of the movement could help tap into broader societal support. This organisation would be able ensure that funds are distributed effectively to the ‘information warriors’ at the forefront of this effort. To maximise impact, it’s crucial to implement a transparent mechanism that ensures the funds are allocated properly and used to achieve their intended goals.

By solidifying the ranks of information warriors, Indonesia can tackle the long-term challenge of combating information manipulation. This is crucial because information manipulation threatens not just individual entities but democracy. It necessitates long-term cooperation that combines inclusive policymaking and media literacy education tailored to the country’s socio-cultural diversities, as well as technology application and development.