Ibas Pushes for Strengthening Quality Information for a Healthy Media Ecosystem

Deputy Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia from the Democrat Party, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono (Ibas), emphasised the importance of strengthening information sovereignty through collaboration between the government, media, and digital platforms. According to him, cross-sector synergy is needed to build a healthy, accurate, and quality information ecosystem to support national stability and public welfare.

Ibas conveyed this during the National Audience with the Digital Platform Corporate Responsibility Committee for Supporting Quality Journalism (KTP2JB) on Tuesday (14/4). In the forum themed Quality Information Sovereignty: Digital Platforms, Press, and Data Globalisation, Ibas stressed the importance of providing a healthy information space for the public.

“We want a healthy and good information ecosystem, because if everyone can access the right, accurate, fair, and balanced news, then our generation will also grow and develop in a healthy manner,” said Ibas in a written statement on Wednesday (15/5/2026).

Ibas assessed that the rapid flow of disinformation and the proliferation of hoaxes on various digital platforms must be responded to with concrete steps so that the public obtains accountable information. He stated that such challenges cannot be addressed with ordinary approaches but require higher information quality standards and strengthened digital literacy.

“It is not enough to just collaborate with the government, but higher information quality standards may be needed that we can do together, and furthermore, digital literacy so that our society can continue to understand the difference between right and wrong, good and bad,” he continued.

According to Ibas, improving information quality must go hand in hand with the public’s ability to critically filter content. He is optimistic that cross-sector synergy can bring positive results for the national information ecosystem quality.

“We must be confident and optimistic that the synergy and collaboration we undertake will gradually produce results, as often heard, truth will always prevail even if it takes time. Amid challenges, I am also confident that synergy between the government, media, politics, parliament, and digital platforms will create a better ecosystem,” he asserted.

On the same occasion, Ibas also touched on the digital regulations formed by the government during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s era, namely the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE). According to him, although it often sparks debate, the regulation still has an important function in regulating the digital space. He added that this direction aligns with President Prabowo’s policies that encourage digital sovereignty, both through infrastructure development and more friendly and protective regulations for the younger generation.

Ibas also highlighted the challenges faced by journalists in the digital era, including pressure and intimidation in carrying out their duties. He emphasised the importance of the principle of balance in conveying information.

“Democracy does provide freedom of speech, commenting, and opinion, but there must still be an aspect of covering both sides so that the information conveyed remains balanced,” he said.

In the audience, a participant named Sasmito also highlighted the condition of digital platforms deemed not yet healthy. He assessed that many content creators package their products as news but have the potential to mislead. According to him, Indonesia’s regulations are actually quite good and could even serve as a reference, but they still need strengthened political support.

He also mentioned the Copyright Bill, which is seen as not yet accommodating current news, thus potentially eroding the economic rights of the press. In addition, he highlighted AI models that present information without sources amid increasingly economically pressured journalism since the pandemic.

From the Democrat Party Faction, Benny Kabur Harman stated that his side would politically fight for those aspirations, even though in a minority position in parliament. Meanwhile, Zulfikar Hamonangan assessed that rules on foreign investment in media already exist, but the ecosystem shift from conventional media to social media, especially through digital advertising, has affected media business models and needs further study.

The national audience was also attended by several figures from the Democrat Party Faction in the House of Representatives, including Marwan Cik Asan, H. Anton Sukartono Suratto, Benny Kabur Harman, Nurwayah, and Zulfikar Hamonangan. Their presence underscores the Democrat Party Faction’s commitment to pushing for a strengthened healthy information ecosystem through cross-sector collaboration and policy support for quality journalism.