The public must be aware of the spread of hoaxes during the 2024 general election campaign. If there are provocateurs and spreaders of hoaxes, they must be dealt with firmly. He could be subject to the ITE Law and the Criminal Code and be held accountable for his mistakes in court. Hoax spreaders must be prosecuted so they don’t create chaos in this country.
Soon the people will welcome the 2024 election. During the election, what is thrilling is not only predicting who the new president will be elected. However, the public is also wary of the rise in hoaxes during the campaign. Don’t let the 2024 Election be like the 2014 and 2019 Elections, where there were many provocateurs who made and spread hoaxes.
Bareskrim Polri has coordinated with the KPU regarding the circulation of a viral video leaking data on the results of the 2024 election. Bareskrim ensures that the news about the leak of KPU data regarding the voting results for the 2024 election is not true, aka hoax.
The Director for Cybercrime at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Adi Vivid Agustiadi Bachtiar, stated that there was already information circulating in the media that the data at the KPU had been leaked. However, the KPU itself denied this information. His party is working with the KPU to conduct profiling of the party who first uploaded the hoax on the leak of data on the 2024 Election results. If a criminal element is found, Bareskrim Polri will thoroughly investigate the findings.
The hoax that the 2024 election results already exist is a very cruel slander. The campaign period has not yet started and the election for presidential candidates and new parties will be held in early 2024. It is impossible for the election results to be out because it will confuse the public.
President Jokowi’s government maintains democracy and will not manipulate the results of the 2024 election. The public is asked not to believe election hoaxes, and to report if they know someone is producing or spreading hoaxes.
Then, the hoax spreaders must be dealt with firmly. They will be subject to several laws, including the ITE Law and the Criminal Code. First, article 40 paragraph (2) of Law No.19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law No.11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions, Article 40 paragraph (2a) of Law No.19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law No. 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions.
Then, Article 40 paragraph (2b) of Law No. 19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law No. 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions, to Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Informatics No. 19 of 2014 concerning Handling of Negatively Loaded Sites.
The Director General of Informatics Applications, Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Samuel stated that the legal basis for handling negative content is currently contained in the amendment to the ITE Law. Hoaxes consist of two things. First, fake news must have the value of the subject object being harmed. Second, violating Article 28 paragraph 2 of Law No. 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions.
Article 28 paragraph 2 reads, “Every person intentionally and without right disseminates information aimed at creating feelings of hatred or hostility towards certain individuals and/or groups of people based on ethnicity, religion, race and inter-group (SARA).”
Samuel added that the news created hatred, hostility and caused disharmony in society. The penalty is imprisonment for six years and/or a fine of IDR 1 billion.
In that sense, those who spread election hoaxes must be dealt with firmly and given the most severe punishment. They must feel the consequences (in the form of imprisonment or large fines) for spreading lies in society.
The public is also advised not to believe any hoaxes regarding the 2024 Election. Easily accessing information on the internet means that people sometimes cannot distinguish between hoaxes and genuine news. Moreover, hoaxes circulating are often coupled with bombastic sentences. Therefore, all parties need to check it first so that they know whether it is genuine news or not.
Article 262 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code states: Everyone who broadcasts or disseminates news or notifications even though he knows that the news or notification is false which causes unrest in society is subject to imprisonment for a maximum of 6 years or a maximum fine of category V. .
Main Policy Analyst for Special Operations Specialist Itwasum Police, Inspector General of Police. Rikwanto, SH, stated that spreading hoaxes in cyberspace could be subject to articles in the RKUHP or outside it (for example the ITE Law). Hoax aims to incite certain individuals or groups.
In that sense, hoaxes are dangerous because they trigger other people to hate each other and can offend SARA. If there is no article that provides penalties or fines for hoax spreaders, then the spread will be rampant. Hoaxes are mushrooming, both in family WA groups or other groups.
Those who spread election hoaxes must be dealt with firmly and receive maximum punishment. They can be subject to the Criminal Code and UU ITE, and imprisoned or fined a large nominal. The public must be aware of hoaxes and propaganda and be able to distinguish between genuine and fake election news.
)* The author is Daris Pustaka Contributor
