Observer Proposes Election Bill Clarify Digital Campaign Rules
Malang, East Java (ANTARA) - Verdy Firmantario, a political communication observer from Brawijaya University, has proposed that the discussions regarding the Bill on the Amendment to the Election Law (RUU Pemilu) must clarify rules concerning campaigning in the digital realm.
According to Verdy, in the modern era of elections, social media will become a battlefield for narratives which, if left unregulated, could lead to vulnerabilities such as information manipulation by artificial intelligence (AI) or buzzers.
“Digital campaign regulations must be clarified and strengthened because future elections will be heavily determined by narratives on social media,” Verdy stated in Malang, East Java, on Monday.
He noted that election regulations should naturally adapt to digital technological developments so that the implementation of legislation aligns with the real issues and conditions within society. This step, Verdy added, would serve as a way to improve the quality of democracy and the communication relationship between the state, political parties, candidates, the media, and the public.
According to him, current political competition is often unbalanced due to capital, media dominance, and the power of digital algorithms. “Candidates with large resources find it much easier to dominate public conversation spaces; therefore, regulations on campaign financing, media access, and political communication transparency are vital to ensure a fairer democracy,” he said.
Verdy also expressed hope that the revision of the Election Bill would not merely be a technical electoral discussion, but would serve as a reference for conducting more equitable elections. “Elections must not merely be a five-yearly procedure, but must build democratic legitimacy,” he added.
Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) is currently awaiting approval from the House leadership to form a Working Committee (Panja) for the Election Bill. The House has also scheduled a Public Hearing (RDPU) agenda involving academics and various democracy research institutions during the fifth session of the 2025-2026 legislative period.