Minister Meutya Calls for Peaceful Digital Space During Public Aspirations

Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid has called on the public to maintain order in both physical and digital spaces when expressing aspirations through demonstrations. Meutya stressed that the government respects the right of citizens to express opinions publicly, including criticism, input, and aspirations directed at the government. “The government is open to aspirations, criticism, and input from the public. Expressing opinions is a right guaranteed in a democracy,” she said in a ministry press statement confirmed in Jakarta on Friday. “Criticism can be conveyed firmly, but must remain peaceful. Do not be easily provoked into violence, vandalism, arson, attacks, or other actions that endanger the community,” she added.

Meutya highlighted the importance of maintaining order and security in spaces where aspirations are expressed, including demonstration sites and digital platforms. She urged the public not to upload or disseminate unverified information, not to share calls for violence, and not to engage in provocations that could worsen the situation in the digital space. Content that continuously appears on timelines does not necessarily reflect the complete situation, as it may be influenced by interaction patterns, interests, or emotions amplified by algorithms.

“Do not immediately assume your timeline represents the full picture. The algorithm illusion can make us feel that everyone is angry, that everyone justifies violence, or that all information we see is fact. That may not be the case,” Meutya said. She therefore encouraged the public to verify information from multiple sources and strive to understand the context to avoid being easily provoked. Meutya also reminded the public to be wary of hoaxes, disinformation, video manipulation, and out-of-context information snippets that could divide society. “The digital space must not become a place to amplify provocation,” she stated. “Differences of opinion are normal in a democracy, but hoaxes, incitement to violence, and information manipulation must not be given space. Let us ensure aspirations are conveyed peacefully and responsibly.” She added that aspirations and messages delivered peacefully will be clearer and more readily accepted by the public.