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Digital AI helps govt block 3,195 radical posts
The Communications and Information Ministry has said it has blocked at least 3,195 radical postings on several social media platforms since May 21.
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Representatives of 22 media organizations across the country appear in a photograph taken on May 5 at the 2018 Trusted Media Summit in Jakarta. The media representatives signed a memorandum of understanding on a collaboration to debunk fake news. (JP/Sita Dewi)
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he Communications and Information Ministry has said it has blocked at least 3,195 radical postings on social media since May 21 that were identified by its artificial intelligence (AI) software.
“We have found and blocked around 3,195 postings that contained [radical and terrorist content] on several media social platforms,” the ministry's information and public policy director general, Rosarita Niken Widiastuti, said on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com.
With 53 percent of the Indonesian population, or around 143 million citizens, having internet access, social media has become one of the key tools in accelerating the spread of radicalism and terrorism.
"Social media has been widely used by radical groups to spread their ideology faster," said Niken.
She also expressed a concern that members of the younger generation that were exposed to widespread radical content would end up subscribing to extremist ideologies.
“Let us use social media to deliver positive materials so the nation’s energy will not be wasted on only taking care of negative content,” she said.
The ministry has also deployed its AI software to crack down on websites containing fake news. The digital tool is expected to help the government curb the spread of hoaxes and false information ahead of the regional elections on June 27, which will be held simultaneously in 171 provinces, regencies and cities. (hol/dmr)
