Pancasila must serve as a guide to navigate AI influence in digital spaces
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Romy Soekarno, a member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), stated that the values of Pancasila need to serve as a guide in facing the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital algorithms that can influence public opinion.
Speaking during an information and communication technology webinar titled “Strengthening the Pancasila Ideology” held online in Jakarta on Thursday, Romy noted that Indonesia faces challenges ranging from social fragmentation and intolerance to societal polarisation, all of which are exacerbated by technological advancements.
“Pancasila is not merely a formula placed within state documents. Pancasila is the nation’s way of life and its moral compass, serving as the unifying force for the highly diverse Indonesian society,” said Romy.
According to him, Pancasila values must be tangibly present in the digital space, especially as algorithms and artificial intelligence play an increasing role in shaping public opinion.
The value of unity, he continued, means refraining from spreading hatred and disinformation that divides society. Meanwhile, the value of democracy should be realised through healthy dialogue, rather than merely pursuing popularity in the digital realm.
Regarding the value of social justice, Romy argued that digitalisation should not only be enjoyed by certain groups.
“We must ensure that the digital divide does not become a new form of social inequality. In Artificial Intelligence, we also require an ethical orientation,” he said.
One of his proposed ideas is the development of “AI Merah Putih” (Red and White AI) as an effort to strengthen technological sovereignty.
“Technology answers ‘how’, but Pancasila must answer ‘why’ and ‘for whom’. We must possess the capability to protect our data and our information sovereignty,” he added.
Furthermore, Romy suggested that Pancasila education for Generation Z and Alpha should move away from rigid indoctrination methods, shifting instead towards a participatory approach based on real-world experiences.