TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) has discovered foreign social media accounts that deliberately spread false reports or hoaxes on conditions in Papua.

According to BSSN Chief Hinsa Siburian, the accounts might belong to individuals or groups. “We cannot jump into any conclusion instantly,” said Hinsa at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs office, Jakarta, Friday, August 30.

However, Hinsa said he could not detect the countries of origin of the accounts yet. “We cannot mention them because they may come from anywhere.”

He also appealed to Papuans and West Papuans, whom he believed to be peace-loving people, to not being provoked by fake information.

Some 32,000 contents on social media platforms considered to be containing provocative and hoax information about the situation in Papua and West Papua had been scrapped by the joint team of cyber police, Communication and Information Ministry (Kominfo), and BSSN. The team also found 1,700 accounts spreading negative contents.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo revealed that some of the thousand accounts reported by Kominfo hailed from foreign states. The police are currently examining the owners’ profiles.

DEWI NURITA