The General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of Indonesia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the popular video-sharing social media platform TikTok to prevent the spread of hate speech and hoaxes leading up to the 2024 General Elections. This marks the first time TikTok has entered into such an agreement, underscoring its commitment to promoting healthy and fair elections.
During the MoU signing event, Bawaslu head Rahmat Bagja emphasized the importance of this partnership in mitigating the risk of hoaxes on social media, citing the prevalence of misinformation during the 2019 General Elections. By cooperating with TikTok and other platforms, Bawaslu aims to create an environment for more healthy and informed discussions during elections.
Bagja expressed the hope that TikTok and other social media platforms would provide educational and informative content on general elections, serving as reliable references for voters. It is imperative that such content is free from hoaxes, defamation, and any form of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, or race. This initiative primarily focuses on empowering first-time and young voters who are seeking accurate information.
Firry Wahid, the head of public policy and government relations at TikTok Indonesia, affirmed TikTok’s commitment to supporting the integrity of general elections. Wahid stated that TikTok will assist in educating voters about the elections and will establish a dedicated channel for Bawaslu to receive reports regarding misinformation on the platform.
This partnership between Bawaslu and TikTok highlights the growing importance of social media platforms in the democratic process. By collaborating to combat hate speech and hoaxes, they aim to foster an environment that promotes fair, transparent, and informed elections.
Sources:
– Jakarta (ANTARA)
– Ministry devises steps to fight hoaxes ahead of 2024 elections
– Bawaslu projects hoax spread to peak in February 2024
