ISKI 2026 National Meeting Highlights Public Trust Crisis in the AI Era

The Indonesian Association of Communication Scholars (ISKI) held the ISKI 2026 National Working Meeting on 3 June 2026 at the Kemala Ballroom, Esa Unggul University, Jakarta, with the theme ‘Strengthening Indonesia’s Communication Ecosystem to Build Public Trust in the Era of AI and Disinformation’. ISKI Chairman Atwar Bajari stated that the development of digital technology has changed the way society produces, distributes, and consumes information. “The current communication problem is not merely about how messages are conveyed, but how communication can build trust, maintain information integrity, and strengthen social relations amidst very rapid technological changes,” said Atwar, who is a Professor of Communication Science at Padjadjaran University. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs acknowledged that technological developments, especially AI, have a paradoxical impact on the national information landscape. On one hand, AI is able to significantly boost productivity. However, AI also makes the boundary between real and fake information increasingly thin. “We need to reflect together, has the development of communication technology, including AI, moved far faster than humanity’s ability to understand it?” stressed Fifi Aleyda Yahya, Director General of Public Communication and Media at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, while opening the ISKI 2026 National Working Meeting. Therefore, the Ministry invited ISKI administrators and members to exchange ideas and strengthen collaborative and solution-oriented synergy to face the rapid flow of digital technology. Meanwhile, Esa Unggul University Rector Arief Kusuma Among Praja believes that higher education has an important responsibility to prepare human resources who are not only technologically adept, but also possess digital literacy, communication ethics, critical thinking skills, and strong academic integrity. “We continue to encourage the development of education that is adaptive to changing times, including the integration of AI technology in the learning, research, and community service processes. But we also instil that technology must be used responsibly and oriented towards public benefit,” explained Arief. Arief hopes that the ISKI National Working Meeting is not merely an organisational agenda, but a space for reflection and dialogue that produces real contributions to the advancement of communication in Indonesia. The ISKI National Working Meeting is an organisational forum to draft work programmes for the next five years, as well as a national consolidation platform for academics, researchers, practitioners, and communication professionals to formulate a more inclusive and public-interest-oriented Indonesian communication agenda.