JAKARTA – The wave of demonstrations in Jakarta has been marred by a surge of hoaxes deliberately spread to inflame the situation. One such rumor was that thousands of people from West Java, Central Java, East Java, Banten, Lampung, and Makassar would enter Jakarta for a massive demonstration. This information turned out to be false and only aimed to inflame anti-government groups in the capital.
In addition to this issue, other hoaxes circulated surrounding allegations of repression by the authorities. This false information spread quickly through social media and messaging apps, leading to an escalation of tensions on the ground.
The Chairman of the Presidium of the Indonesian Anti-Defamation Society (Mafindo), Septiaji Eko Nugroho, emphasized that hoaxes produced using advanced technology such as deepfakes are increasingly dangerous.
“As a result, uncertainty, anger, incitement to hatred, and acts of violence emerged,” said Septiaji.
He added that Mafindo supports demonstrations as part of freedom of expression. However, he rejects any form of violence that harms many parties.
“Looting is an act that must be avoided because it is classified as a criminal act of theft,” Septiaji emphasized.
Afterward, he again reminded the public to be vigilant against the flood of information circulating in the digital space. He stated that people must not be careless in selecting news, especially during a time of heightened socio-political tensions.
“The public should not be easily provoked by unclear content, hoaxes, or hate speech,” concluded Septiaji.
Dr. Radius Setiyawan, an expert in cultural and media studies at Muhammadiyah University (UM) Surabaya, also highlighted the rapid flow of information following the unrest in several regions. He argued that the public must increase their vigilance.
“The digital public space is now flooded with diverse information. In these chaotic conditions, the public needs to be cautious and not rush to believe every piece of news,” said Radius.
He explained that the potential for hoaxes and disinformation is enormous and could worsen the situation if not handled wisely. Radius believes the government has a strategic role in maintaining information transparency. While responding quickly to situations is crucial, caution must remain paramount to prevent policies from increasing public unrest.
Furthermore, Radius assessed that the public is now increasingly critical in analyzing news online. Netizens, he said, are able to distinguish peaceful demonstrations from riots that end in looting through data and analysis.
“For example, many netizens can quickly distinguish between peaceful demonstrations and riots that end in looting,” said Radius Setiyawan.
He also reminded that riots don’t always arise spontaneously. According to several studies, certain actors deliberately direct crowds toward destructive actions.
“They understand how to incite the emotions of a crowd to the point of arson and looting,” Radius added.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Makmun Rasyid, Founder of the Center for Indonesian Crisis Strategic Resolution (CICSR), delivered an important message urging the public to avoid being trapped in divisiveness through destructive demonstrations. He emphasized that the Indonesian nation is in a phase of awakening that cannot be disrupted by provocation.
“Indonesia is on the verge of a revival, and we must not allow it to continue to be pitted against each other,” Rasyid said.
He emphasized that freedom of expression is protected by law, but must be exercised while maintaining the public interest. Rioting and the destruction of facilities, he argued, would only waste public funds.
“Convey your aspirations in a good and peaceful manner, without causing damage, violence, looting, rioting, and actions that harm public facilities,” Rasyid concluded.
Thus, the circulating rumors that thousands of people from various regions will enter Jakarta are simply hoaxes designed to provoke. The public is urged not to believe such rumors and instead to maintain unity and prioritize peaceful aspirations for the sake of upholding democracy.
