Minister: Facebook Most Ignorant in Blocking Hoax Content

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Communication and Informatics Minister Rudiantara said that social media giant Facebook is the least obedient platform in meeting the government’s request to block contents spreading hoaxes or false news.

The Minister made the statement during a session with the House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission I overseeing communication and informatics in the Parliament Complex, South Jakarta, Monday, May 13.

“We will expose the data on how many accounts we demand to be taken down, and how many accounts they have done so. Facebook is the worst. Yes, that’s right, I’d like to [reveal it] with pleasure,” said Rudiantara as quoted from the official statement issued in the government’s website setkab.go.id, Tuesday, May 14.

The statement was in response to the remark of the commission member Evita Nursanty who said that Facebook would comply with the request to block negative contents.

“During a meeting with Facebook management, they say that they follow the government's [regulation]. When asked to shut down an account, they did so,” said the PDIP politician.

Rudiantara further explained that Facebook had indeed claimed to have abode by the government’s policy. However, he has to get into an argument first with platform management to push it to shut down hoax contents.

“Not every account that we asked to be taken down is blocked for many reasons. What Facebook said to the Commission I is different from the reality,” the minister underlined.

On the occasion, Rudiantara also said that he is ready to expose the data regarding the blocking demand issued by the government and the social media platform’s compliance. The ministry, he added, has the records on the request of account blocking in various platforms, either Twitter, Google, or Facebook.

DIAS PRASONGKO