JAKARTA (BPN) – The Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) will give strict sanctions for spreaders of fake news or hoaxes related to COVID-19 and others, with a fine of up to IDR 1 billion.
According to the Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Johnny G Plate, hoax spreading is a violation against Law Number 11 the Year 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions (UU ITE).
“The act of creating and spreading the hoax is an unlawful act, and can be put behind bars for five to six years, and a fine of IDR 1 billion,” the Minister said in his official statement at the Media Center for the COVID-19 task force, Jakarta, on Saturday.
To overcome the spread of fake news, Kominfo with the Indonesian National Police has arrested 89 perpetrators, which 14 of them have been detained, while 75 others are still on process.
Up to this day, the ministry founds 554 hoax issues spread across 1,209 digital platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.
On Facebook, the ministry found 861 cases, Twitter with 204 cases, four on Instagram, and four on Youtube.
Of all the fake news, as many as 893 have been taken down, while for the rest 316 are still on the process for takedown also.
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