Fact check: 'ATM MBG' card for distributing free meal funds to students is a hoax

A Facebook post featuring an image of a card labelled ‘ATM MBG Anak Indonesia’ (ATM for Free Nutritious Meals for Indonesian Children), resembling a standard ATM card, has been circulating online. The post questioned whether the government would transfer Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) funds directly to each child through such a card.

However, a fact-check by ANTARA using the AI Detector Hive Moderation tool indicates that 99.6 per cent of the image is likely AI-generated or a deepfake. There has been no official statement from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) or the Ministry of Finance regarding the direct disbursement of MBG funds to individual children via ATM cards.

According to ANTARA reports, the government, through the Coordinating Ministry for Food, is currently focusing on the operational readiness and sustainability of over 13,000 Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) nationwide. The priority is on improving service points, particularly in regions with high stunting rates such as the Papua Highlands and East Nusa Tenggara, and updating data for the programme’s 63 million targeted beneficiaries.