Spreader Covid-19 Hoaks Threatened Confinement and Fines 1 Billion

Spreader Covid-19 Hoaks Threatened Confinement and Fines 1 Billion

The Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Communication and Information as part of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 will provide strict sanctions for perpetrators of hoaxes related to COVID-19 and others with fines of up to Rp1 billion.

In this case the perpetrators of hoax distribution are included in legal action, for him will be subject to sanctions in accordance with those regulated in Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions (UU ITE).

"The act of producing or continuing hoaks is an illegal act. It has the potential to be subject to a criminal article that can be up to five to six years in prison and a fine of Rp1 billion, "said Communications and Information Minister Johnny G Plate in Jakarta, Saturday (4/18).

Article 45A paragraph (1) of the ITE Law states that anyone who intentionally spreads false and misleading news that results in consumer losses in electronic transactions may be subject to a maximum imprisonment of six years and / or a maximum fine of Rp1 billion.

To overcome the spread of hoaks, Kominfo cooperated with the Indonesian National Police. Until now Kominfo, assisted by the Police, has arrested 89 suspects, with details of 14 perpetrators have been detained, while 75 others are still in the process. The Ministry of Communication and Information also found 554 hoax issues spread across 1,209 digital platforms, both on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube to this day.

Based on the findings of Kominfo, hoaks are more widely spread on Facebook, reaching 861 cases, followed by Twitter with 204 cases, four on Instagram, and four on Youtube.

Of all the hoaks spread across 1,209 platforms, as many as 893 of them have taken the process of take down, while the other 316, it is still in the process of requesting to digital platforms for immediate action.

"It's time we limit ourselves and use digital space, smartphones and all facilities that are owned properly," he concluded.