TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) will cooperate with video-sharing network TikTok and renew deals with nine social media platforms to avoid the spread of hoaxes ahead of the 2024 general elections.

"This [Tiktok] application will definitely be used by some people to attack other people's choices," said Bawaslu chairman Rahmat Bagja on the sidelines of the Fifth Plenary Assembly Global Network on Electoral Justice in Bali on Monday, October 10, 2022.

Bagja asserted that social media has both positive and negative impacts on the election. It helps disseminate information but is also used to spread false news. According to him, high exposure to false news can also make people believe.

"That's what we fear will happen again in the 2024 elections," Bagja said.

Therefore, Bagja said that the Bawaslu will renew the MoU with social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The cooperation will include fact-checking information related to elections. The Bawaslu can take action against false election news, while those related to general crimes will be handled by the police.

Bagja said his institution will also cooperate with the Cyber and National Encryption Agency (BSSN) and the Ministry of Communication and Information to strengthen digital security which will be prioritized on Bawaslu’s website and data.

M ROSSENO AJI

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