Requiring mobile phone numbers on social media could curb hoaxes

Jakarta — A member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Oleh Soleh, said the plan by the Ministry of Communications and Digital to require social media users to publish their mobile phone numbers at account registration could help prevent hoaxes. He said the policy could be an effective instrument to curb the activities of buzzers who have long unsettled the digital public space by spreading false information and content with hateful nuances. ‘With clearer identity there will be no more bot accounts or anonymous accounts used to spread negative content, lies, and provocation on social media,’ Oleh Soleh said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday. The legislator for communications and informatics added that social media use must be well regulated to create a healthy, safe, and responsible digital space. ‘Including a mobile number is important so that every account owner is responsible for every message or information conveyed on social media,’ he said. In addition to preventing the spread of hoaxes, hate speech, disinformation and misinformation, Oleh Soleh believes the policy being studied by the government can also anticipate various digital fraud methods that are rife on social media. He hopes the policy can be formulated carefully while continuing to respect personal data protection and responsible freedom of expression. A proper regulation, he added, will help create a healthier, more educational, and productive digital ecosystem for Indonesian society. According to Meutya, the plan is currently in the public consultation stage. ‘This is what we are working on with public consultations, of course, so that when people enter social media they must put their phone numbers, so that their identity is clear,’ she said. She noted that currently providing a mobile number when creating a social media account remains optional. By including a phone number, the identity of social media users and their uploads becomes accountable. ‘They (social media users) become accountable or responsible for the writings that are displayed,’ Meutya said. In addition, the Ministry of Komdigi will also strengthen the digital identity that has been verified through the Electronic Certification Authority (PSrE). The move is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen national resilience in the digital space, especially in facing threats of misinformation, disinformation, and the misuse of deepfake technology.