Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Director General of Digital Space Supervision\nat the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi),\nAlexander Sabar, has launched a book titled \u201cIn the Name of Heaven:\nRadicalisation Algorithms and the Manipulation of Consciousness\u201d, which\nexamines the spread of propaganda by terrorist groups in the digital\nsphere.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this book, we attempt to explain the phenomenon of terrorism\npropaganda that uses information technology as its vehicle,\u201d Alexander\nsaid at the launch event for \u201cIn the Name of Heaven: Radicalisation\nAlgorithms and the Manipulation of Consciousness\u201d in Jakarta on\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Alexander explained that the idea for the book originated from his\nday-to-day work, which intersects with counter-terrorism efforts and the\nmonitoring of activity in the digital space.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis stems from our daily work during our assignments with the\nIndonesian National Police Anti-Terrorism Task Force, as well as with\nthe National Police Special Detachment 88 Counter-Terrorism Unit, at the\nNational Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), and now as we serve at the\nMinistry of Communication and Digital Affairs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The book argues that through mass narratives and digital media\nalgorithms, terrorism seeks to construct a false reality (hyperreality)\nthat is deemed more credible by the public.<\/p>\n
When the boundary between information and propaganda becomes\nincreasingly blurred, internet users risk becoming targets for the\nspread of terrorist group ideology.<\/p>\n
The 164-page book is based on Alexander\u2019s doctoral dissertation,\ncompleted during his postgraduate studies at the University of Indonesia\n(UI).<\/p>\n
The work draws on the thinking of French sociologist Jean Baudrillard\nand his theory of simulacra, which explains how artificial imagery\nreplaces genuine reality.<\/p>\n
Alexander hopes the book will broaden public understanding of\nterrorism propaganda in the digital space.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe sincerely hope that this book will eventually be of benefit,\nadding to the knowledge of all Indonesians regarding the phenomenon of\nterrorism propaganda that is currently rampant in our digital sphere,\u201d\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid\nexpressed her appreciation for the launch of \u201cIn the Name of Heaven:\nRadicalisation Algorithms and the Manipulation of Consciousness\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to her, the book illustrates how narrative power in the\ndigital era can develop from small lies into the destruction of\nhumanitarian values.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything begins with something sweet, an illusion. That is the\nchallenge when narrative power \u2014 as reflected in the title \u2018In the Name\nof Heaven: Radicalisation Algorithms and the Manipulation of\nConsciousness\u2019 \u2014 combines with the power of algorithms in today\u2019s\ndigital era,\u201d Meutya said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/book-atas-nama-surga-examines-digital-propaganda-and-radicalisation-algorithms-1785347510", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }