Jakarta's Jalahoaks programme wins 'Champion Project' at WSIS Prizes 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jakarta’s Jalahoaks programme, managed by the Jakarta Provincial Communication, Information, and Statistics Agency (Diskominfotik), has been awarded the ‘Champion Project’ title at the prestigious international World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2026. Budi Awaluddin, head of Jakarta’s Diskominfotik, explained that the WSIS Prizes selection process is rigorous and multi-stage, starting from project submissions, nomination phase, public voting, and ending with final evaluation by WSIS expert panel. ‘After the project submission stage, nominated entries proceed to public voting. The public’s votes are then reviewed by the WSIS panel, from which the champion projects are selected,’ Budi stated in a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday. Budi noted that this year’s achievement marks a significant leap for Jalahoaks, as the disinformation countermeasure programme had only reached the nomination stage in the past two years without securing a champion project title. ‘This year, Jalahoaks has secured the champion project status for the first time,’ he added. Budi attributed the success to Jakarta’s sustained digital literacy initiatives. The WSIS panel does not merely assess hoax clarification efforts but also tangible contributions to raising public awareness. ‘WSIS looks not only at hoax clarification processes but also how an initiative boosts public awareness and digital literacy. Jalahoaks actively conducts digital literacy events, creates educational social media content, and enhances public understanding of the dangers of hoaxes,’ Budi explained. He also praised central government support, with the Jakarta Provincial Government receiving guidance from the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) via the Siberkreasi programme. Komdigi consistently monitors and provides developmental input for projects competing in WSIS. ‘Jalahoaks winning the WSIS Prizes 2026 Champion Project title strengthens Jakarta’s position as a region actively developing a healthy, trustworthy digital information ecosystem focused on enhancing public digital literacy,’ Budi said. According to organisers, the WSIS Prizes 2026 received 1,595 submissions globally. Of these, 360 projects were nominated, narrowing down to 90 ‘champion projects’. Indonesia secured three champion projects this year. Alongside Jakarta’s Jalahoaks, the other two came from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. In this event, Jalahoaks competed in the Ethical Dimensions of the Information Society category, facing off against four other projects from various countries. All champion project recipients will be invited to attend the WSIS Forum 2026, scheduled for 6-10 July in Geneva, Switzerland. During the in-person forum, organisers will announce 18 top projects as main winners representing each category.