Jakarta Provincial Government prepares young generation to lead the fight against hoaxes

The Jakarta Communication, Informatics, and Statistics Office (Diskominfotik) is preparing the younger generation to act as drivers of digital literacy through the 2026 Jakarta Anti-Hoax Ambassador Programme.

Marulina Dewi, Head of Diskominfotik Jakarta, stated that the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has made hoaxes increasingly difficult to recognise, as they can now take the form of manipulated photos, videos, audio, deepfakes, and generative content.

“In the era of AI, our challenge is no longer merely distinguishing between true and false information. Photos, voices, and even videos can be engineered with extreme persuasiveness,” Marulina said in a written statement received in Jakarta on Friday.

She explained that 10 finalists, selected from 356 applicants, presented their campaign projects and innovations during the judging stage on 29 September 2026. The assessment of the finalists included creativity, relevance of ideas, implementation capability, communication and leadership, impact, and programme sustainability.

The finalists have undergone a series of selection and training processes since July 2026, including in-house training and guidance on developing campaign projects.

The inauguration of the 2026 Jakarta Anti-Hoax Ambassadors is planned for October 2026.

Once selected, the ambassadors will serve as partners to Diskominfotik to expand digital literacy through schools, universities, communities, public spaces, and digital channels.

“We are looking for young people who are capable of speaking the language of their generation, engaging with the community, and transforming knowledge into a movement,” said Marulina.