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Main danger of Information Age are lies and slander, says Jokowi

Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post)
Pekalongan, Central Java
Mon, January 9, 2017

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Main danger of Information Age are lies and slander, says Jokowi For the sake of unity – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (front, right) calls on all Indonesian people to maintain unity in his remarks to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, or Maulid Nabi, in Pekalongan, Central Java, on Jan.8. Indonesian Military commander Gen.Gatot Nurmantyo and National Police Gen.Tito Karnavian attended the event, which was hosted by Habib Muhammad Luthfi (front, left), a notable ulema from Pekalongan. (JP/Suherdjoko)

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mid the increased spread of fake news on the internet, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said on Sunday that social media has become a visible danger.

During a commemoration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad in Pekalongan, Central Java, Jokowi said that the spread of fake news would lead to the disintegration of the country into its various tribes, races and religions.

The danger to the nation’s unity, he said, came from the cellular phones from which everyone can access information these days.

“There is fake information and trusted information. There are slanders; there are truths. Some are instigators while others not. The Information Age is very open. We should filter the information or it will tear apart our unity,” he said.

Indonesia, with 129 million active social media users, has seen a growing intensity of disinformation on the internet in recent months, including the latest fake news item about an influx of millions of Chinese workers into Indonesia, which Jokowi said was meant to fan antiChina sentiments.

Jokowi declared war on fake news and hoaxes during a year-end Cabinet meeting, during which he ordered government agencies to improve coordination in handling issues related to the internet and social media.

After blocking at least 11 websites containing fake news and hate speech, the government has moved to expedite the establishment of an integrated national agency to control the spread of disinformation in cyberspace, which is considered a serious threat to national security.

The agency is expected to commence operations this month. It would be tasked with monitoring national cyber activities, including expediting the process of sorting online information and identifying what is accurate and what is fake.

The tough competition in the Jakarta gubernatorial election was another trigger for the spreading of fake news.

Sectarian comments have been thrown at candidates on social media as they battle to win the February election.

Jokowi said every citizen should treasure diversity in the country as a source of strength.

“Prophet Muhammad gave us examples in the art of politics. He made a political contract called the Madinah Charter in which all agreed for unity. Islam respects diversity of races and groups,” he said in front of the thousands of people who attended the commemoration.

“Indonesia has more than 700 tribes with 1,100 local languages. It is God’s blessing. We have 34 provinces and 516 regencies and municipalities. Let’s keep our unity,” he added.

The President came with Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, Army’s chief of staff Gen. Mulyono and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.

Hosting the event was Muhammad Luthfi bin Yahya, a charismatic Muslim cleric from Pekalongan. Several Muslim clerics from other countries were also present.

“We should uphold Indonesian Islam. We should show unity not only here, but also to the world,” said Jokowi.

Muhammad Luthfi reminded Muslims that the country’s strength is in its unity.

“Here the President, the TNI chief and the police chief, along with the clerics, cannot be separated. This is a symbol of unity that cannot be compromised,” he said.

Ganjar said the public should not get caught on the information generated by the fake news.

“Hoaxes are lies, slanders. They trigger people to comment. Let’s leave that. Indonesia should unite to be strong and win,” he said.

In Pekalongan, Jokowi also visited a fishing village in North Pekalongan to deliver five fishing boats.

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