Palace Invites Public to Break Free from Algorithm

Presidential Special Adviser on Communication Hasan Nasbi has invited the public to interpret independence by freeing their minds and emotions from the influence of algorithms in the digital space. “We should perhaps learn to be free from this algorithmic colonisation,” Hasan said after attending the 81st Independence Day commemoration ceremony at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Monday (17/8).

Hasan said the public needs to build mechanisms and habits in consuming information so that their thoughts and emotions are not easily influenced by social media algorithms. According to him, one example can be seen in the widespread discussion on social media regarding a clip of President Prabowo Subianto’s speech mentioning a wage of Rp700,000 for onion-peeling work. Hasan assessed that public attention then became focused on that excerpt rather than the overall substance of the President’s speech.

“Let us consider the substance of the President’s major speech,” he said. According to Hasan, the public should view a speech or piece of information in its entirety and not fixate on one or two sentences that have been cut and circulated through social media. He said the public needs to delve into the substance and ideas being conveyed rather than being easily influenced by narratives that develop from content fragments in the digital space.

On that occasion, Hasan also touched on the handling of the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). According to him, President Prabowo has instructed government officials to go directly to the field and mobilise aid for affected communities from the outset of the disaster response. “Today several ministers may still be on standby there,” he said.

Hasan said the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, the Minister of Home Affairs, and the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs are in the affected areas to support emergency response and recovery efforts.