Unsubstantiated Allegations Against FolaPlay Could Constitute Defamation

The Criminal Code (KUHP) accommodates the concept of social punishment. The Chairman of Lingkar Nusantara (Lisan), Farhan Dalimunthe, has reminded the public not to spread allegations that are not yet supported by evidence regarding the suspected share ownership of PT Folago Global Nusantara Tbk (FolaPlay) by Hashim Djojohadikusumo. According to him, narratives that cannot be verified have the potential to become defamatory and harm the accused party. FolaPlay is an over-the-top (OTT) service platform appointed as one of Televisi Republik Indonesia’s partners to broadcast the 2026 World Cup. Farhan believes that the freedom to express criticism in a democracy must still be accompanied by responsibility. He stressed that criticism of public policy should not turn into accusations against individuals without a demonstrable basis. ‘Democracy provides space for anyone to criticise government policy. However, democracy also demands responsibility. Criticism must not become an accusation that cannot yet be proven,’ Farhan said in a written statement on Tuesday (30/6). According to Farhan, the public needs to clearly distinguish between criticism of policy and allegations regarding company ownership or suspected conflicts of interest. He considers that any such allegation must be supported by strong and accountable evidence. Previously, Arsari Group, which was founded by Hashim, had issued a clarification regarding the narrative linking Hashim to the ownership of FolaPlay. In its official statement, Arsari Group asserted that Hashim is not a shareholder, controlling shareholder, beneficial owner, manager, or advisor of FolaPlay. The company also denied allegations that the partnership was intended to benefit Hashim through the use of state budget funds. ‘We refute the information because it is untrue, baseless, and not supported by verifiable facts,’ said VP Corporate Communications of Arsari Group, Ariseno Ridhwan. Hashim’s name had previously been widely linked to alleged conflicts of interest concerning the appointment of FolaPlay as the OTT partner for broadcasting the 2026 World Cup. The narrative emerged in an episode of the Podcast Bocor Alus Politik Tempo and subsequently circulated again through a number of social media accounts. Farhan assessed that the dissemination of unverified information in the digital space often follows a systematic pattern, starting from one source and then being repeated by various accounts until it creates the impression that the information is factual. He also urged the public to maintain the quality of democracy by prioritising communication ethics and making a habit of verifying information before disseminating it.