Negative Information Bring Different Impact to Different Countries

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Indonesian Communications and Information Technology Ministry’s Information and Public Communication Director General  Rosarita Niken Widiastuti stated that fake news (hoax) could cause negative impact on the unity of Indonesia.

”Negative information such as SARA (tribal affiliation, religion, race and societal group), hate speech and intolerance could result conflict in the community as well as disintegration," Niken told a discussion of "Media and Information Literacy as a Bullwark Against Hate Speech ".

The discussion was a part of World Press Freedom Day 2017 programs which took place at  Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, on Wednesday (5/3).  Attending the discussion were domestic and foreign journalists and media practitioners.

In Indonesia, Niken  continued, negative information are often used for  political interest by irresponsible parties, which directly or indirectly bring negative impact on the state administration.

"Negative campaign often makes people attack each other," says Niken.

In the same forum, of Facebook’s Head of Economic Growth Initiatives for Asia Pacific Claire Deevy said that based on research conducted by Facebook, the impact of negative  information on social media is different in each country, depending on the condition of  its community.

Deevy explained that Facebook came to Indonesia to conduct a research on the varied impact of content people most likely upload and share on social media and  in different countries.

Meanwhile, Communication Coordinator Committee for United Nations Adama Lee Bah explained that the Republic of Gambia of West Africa experienced  a different result, where negative information in social media had actually helped Gambian people gain freedom from a dictatorial leadership.

"How did we know if the social media is effective? When the dictatorial president lost the presidential election," Adama said.

Adama added, the role of social media, especially Facebook, in contributing to electoral loss of a dictator president is very significant. Particularly when the president was caught on camera conducted an act of violation and was published through social media.

"Though he did not admit it, it made him lost the presidential election," said Adama. (Reporter Tri Antoro,Translator: Sugiarti)