TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) detected 1,402 hoaxes related to the coronavirus disease or Covid-19 from January 23, 2020, to February 1, 2021. Of the figure, there was 97 false information about Covid-19 vaccines.

"The ministry is taking the initiative to fight these contents from upstream to downstream,” said Anthonius Malau, the ministry’s Internet Control Coordinator under the Directorate General of Informatics Application in a written statement, Tuesday, February 2.

Anthonius explained his side was striving to strengthen the community through a digital literacy program called Siberkreasi. This aimed to develop people’s skills of acknowledging and choosing the right content.

The ministry also collaborated with social media providers, took down the contents, and imposed punishment on the creator and spreader.

Out of the total 1,402 hoaxes, the ministry had taken legal action on 104 cases. The ministry also conducted cyber patrols 24 hours a day, seven days a week, hired 100 people to receive public complaints, and collaborated with 28 ministries and institutions.

The Kominfo Ministry also partnered with the mass media on fact-checking the Covid-19 hoaxes. "In general, mass media provide accountable information because they process the news that leads to the truth," Anthonius said.

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M ROSSENO AJI