Jakarta – The implementation of the 2024 election must not be tarnished by black campaigns and must be honest and fair. The public is also asked to always be aware of provocations and maintain a conducive situation so that the celebration of democracy can take place safely and comfortably.
General elections (Pemilu) will soon be held and there will be a campaign to introduce presidential candidates and legislative candidates to the public. However, during the campaign period, it is very prone to propaganda and black campaigns, which can tarnish the good name of a presidential candidate or politician. The public is asked to be aware of it so as not to get caught in a prolonged conflict.
In the 2014 and 2019 elections there were lots of black campaigns and propaganda circulating. Even though the elections had been many years ago, these two things are still remembered. Not to mention that there are bad names for both parties (supporters) of certain presidential candidates and they become ridiculed on social media, thus making some people embarrassed when they read the social media timeline .
In addition, there are also many hoaxes that are circulating and are not really based on facts. Hoaxes can slander the good name of a politician and his family can get the sap. Therefore hoaxes must be eradicated, especially ahead of the 2024 Election, so that people are not influenced by the incitement of provocateurs in cyberspace.
Bawaslu chairman Rahmat Bagja stated that a task force working to oversee social media networks would be formed by the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu). The goal is to prevent fake news or hoaxes ahead of the upcoming 2024 elections.
Bagja continued, the main task of this task force is to suppress black campaigns in the 2024 general election. This task force can prosecute the perpetrators of this black campaign. Especially if the content that is spread leads to slander and hoax on social media.
In a sense, the government, through Bawaslu, is really frustrated with the spread of content containing black campaigns, propaganda and hoaxes ahead of the 2024 Election. Don’t let the Election turn into an arena for war and hate speech in cyberspace. For this reason, a task force was formed to warn the public to behave well on social media.
Currently there are many hoaxes and propaganda circulating on various social media and this is very troubling, because it triggers many people to argue and blame each other. Before the social media campaign was heated up because of hoaxes. Don’t spread it carelessly because the security forces monitor social media so that there are no provocations, propaganda, black campaigns, and hoaxes.
Netizens must be careful because they can be shot by the Bawaslu task force if they are caught spreading hoaxes, propaganda or black campaigns. If there is horrendous news, don’t just share it. But the truth must be confirmed, because if it is wrong then it has the potential to spread hoaxes as well.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Public Relations Division at the National Police Headquarters, Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo, stated that the National Police will oversee social media ahead of the 2024 General Election (Election). The democratic party must take place in peace. This step was taken after the experience in the 2019 election when social media became a very active medium during the election period
In a sense, ahead of the General Election, the National Police will carry out security not only in the real world but also in cyberspace. The reason is because Indonesian people are very active on social media. With security, it is hoped that cyberspace will become more orderly and there will be no chaos, ahead of or during the 2024 elections.
At first, social media was created to find friends in cyberspace and find old friends who have long disappeared. However, since 2014 social media has changed drastically to become a place of war and the spread of hoaxes, black campaigns and propaganda.
Ahead of the General Election, people must create peace by avoiding hoaxes. The reason is because the influence of hoaxes is very large and can mislead people’s minds, especially those who are still lay people. If there is an election hoax, it will be very detrimental and make the central government and regional governments dizzy, because the public will make false accusations.
The hoax about the election that has been circulating for several months is the issue of a 3-term president. This was strongly denied by President Jokowi because he did not want to be re-elected. The public needs to be aware that this hoax is very misleading and the government continues to enforce the rule that a president can only be elected a maximum of 2 times.
Black campaigns should also be avoided because they can kill someone’s character. People don’t do it for reasons of revenge or anything else. They are also prohibited from carrying out black campaigns on social media even if they are paid handsomely, because what matters is a clean conscience. The public is asked to be aware of black campaigns, propaganda and hoaxes. Don’t let the election fail because of this, because it makes people skeptical of the government. Bawaslu has created a special task force to monitor that netizens do not spread hoaxes, propaganda or black campaigns, so that the virtual world remains peaceful when elections take place.
