IGF 2019 OF #35
Strengthening Digital Transformation through Digital Securit

The unstoppable development of internet and easy access to social media today is shadowed by the spread of fake news. This emerging phenomenon has become such a worry for government around the world. Looking at trust in the media, it is important to recognize that not all countries place the same level of their awareness of misinformation and disinformation. Tackling the spread of online fake news is not an easy task for government. Increasingly, policymakers around the world are searching new ways to deal with this problem. Instead, policymakers around the world should look forward initiatives and mechanisms that would encourage the formulation of regulation to deal with harmful forms of content.

At the global level, one-time MIT researchers reviewed a Twitter data set from 2006 to 2017, and analysed about 126 thousand rumours spread by around 3 million users. Then the fact is that the correct dissemination of the story (including clarification news) takes 6 times longer than the hoax to reach the level of exposure with the same number of people. Not only that, false news turns out that 70 percent is more retweeted than the actual story version

Indonesian government hold weekly ‘fake news’ briefings which aims to, at least, minimize the spread of disinformation in the social media. It also designed encourage Indonesians to think more critically about the news they consume. In addition, MCIT have designed a website called ‘stophoax.id’ that can accessible for public to cross-check the news and post the fake information that have been analyzed by the ministry’s team. Moreover, the National Police, particularly through its cyber crime directorate, have a procedure to be followed for fake news prevention called ‘preventive measures’, that is boosting digital literacy and diction so that the people can be wiser, smarter and more polite in using social media. According to forecast, the number of internet users in Indonesia is projected to grow to 150 million in 2023 (107 million by now). In 2014, it was estimated that around 87 percent of households in Indonesia had a mobile phone. Smartphone ownership in Indonesia has risen from 32.6 to 43.2 percent between 2014 and 2017. The number of smartphone users in Indonesia could reach as high as 96.2 million by the year 2021. But digital literacy has not followed.

In January 2019, Ministry of Communication and Informatics of Indonesia stated there were 175 hoaxes, and increasing to 353 news in February. The fact was so apprehensive considering Indonesia as the fourth most populous country on earth, and poses a large and fast-growing market for mobile technologies.

Some strategic steps could be implemented by governments such as: deeper systematic issues on how social media algorithms incentivize the spread of false or other forms of negative content; implement positive intervention include verifying the identity of people and organizations; regulation for social media and online news platform companies to create a public archive of all advertisements bought and sold to hold certain groups accountable for any dark advertisement.