Minister Meutya Denies Curbing Press Freedom, Warns of Hoaxes Ahead of Independence Day
Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid has denied allegations that the government is limiting media coverage, insisting that the information is false. She emphasised that the media remains free to carry out its journalistic duties as long as it complies with journalistic principles and the corridors of the Press Law.
“There is no prohibition on the mass media from conducting coverage of any kind, as long as it is within journalistic principles and in accordance with the Press Law,” Meutya told reporters at the Komdigi Office in Jakarta on Monday (3/8/2026). She added that the media actually plays a crucial role in conveying accurate information to the public.
Furthermore, Meutya stated that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs needs to continuously educate the public to be more vigilant against the rampant spread of hoaxes. According to her, ahead of the Indonesian Independence Day commemoration, the production of hoax content aimed at provoking the public has increased. She reminded the public to scrutinise every video or piece of information circulating on social media. Meutya explained that hoaxes take various forms, ranging from events that never happened, to the use of old images out of context, and the splicing of events from other countries to make them appear as if they occurred in Indonesia.
Because of this, Meutya urged the mass media to accelerate the dissemination of accurate information to narrow the space for disinformation. “That is precisely why Komdigi wants media colleagues to please cover and report the truth quickly, so as not to give room for disinformation to enter,” she said.
Meutya also appealed to parties that deliberately produce and spread false information to stop such actions. She noted that hoaxes have caused fear within the community. She stressed that the public is allowed to share information as long as it is true, but spreading false information with the intent to cause panic is unjustifiable.
Meutya assessed that the impact of hoaxes is very real because it influences people’s daily decisions. Incorrect information, she said, can make people afraid to go out, worried while working, and create anxiety. “Because information impacts individual decisions day by day, some become afraid to go out, some become worried while working. Now, I think this is inappropriate, it is wrong, it violates democratic values and truly does not reflect our spirit as a Gotong Royong nation, especially as we welcome our Independence Day,” she concluded.