Information Commission reminds the public of the importance of accessing information from official channels

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Ferid Nugroho, Commissioner for Education, Socialisation, and Advocacy of the Information Commission (KI) for DKI Jakarta Province, reminded the public of the importance of accessing information from official channels of public bodies to obtain correct and accurate information. ‘The existence of official information from public bodies is very important to prevent the spread of hoaxes and misleading information,’ he said at a seminar on public information openness themed ‘Open Information in the Digital Era: Wise Access, Smart Oversight’ in Jakarta on Thursday. Ferid noted that Law Number 14 of 2008 on Public Information Openness (UU KIP) requires every public body to manage and disseminate information via its official websites or pages. The management is undertaken by the Information and Documentation Management Officer (PPID). ‘By referring to the official website or the public body’s official social media, the public need not worry because the information available is highly accountable,’ Ferid said. In addition to official websites and social media, UU KIP also grants the public the right to obtain certain information from public bodies through the public information request mechanism. According to Ferid, the mechanism has been clearly regulated in UU KIP and the Commission’s Regulation Number 1 of 2021 on Public Information Service Standards. ‘Therefore, it is very important for ladies and gentlemen to read UU KIP and understand the flow and mechanism for public information requests,’ he said.