Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, said that the growing wave of disinformation in the digital space has the potential to shape public perceptions of national policies as well as Indonesia’s position on various global issues.
According to Meutya, in such circumstances mainstream media plays a crucial role as a guardian of professional journalism and credible information.
“We are currently facing very high levels of misinformation, and it is mainstream media that plays a role in maintaining professionalism and delivering accurate information,” Meutya said during a media visit at the office of The Jakarta Post in Central Jakarta on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
She noted that the abundance of misleading narratives on social media has led to public misunderstandings and overshadowed constructive discussions that could positively impact society.
“It becomes difficult for us to distinguish which voices are genuinely constructive and which are merely noise. When the noise level is high, constructive voices are likely to be drowned out,” she explained.
Impact on Diplomacy and the Need for Verified Journalism
In foreign affairs, disinformation can even undermine Indonesia’s bargaining position in international forums, including issues related to Indonesia’s participation in the Board of Peace.
"The government may be criticized, that is fine, but the Board of Peace issue is also related to Indonesia’s bargaining position,” she said.
Meutya emphasized that the media’s role extends beyond communicating government policies; it also involves safeguarding the accuracy of sensitive issues that affect Indonesia’s reputation and diplomacy.
She stressed that the government needs media coverage that is argumentative and analytical so the public can gain a comprehensive understanding rather than fragmented information that triggers emotional reactions.
She also underlined that the constitutional right to information implies access to accurate information.
“Accurate information is a right of the public to know, and that is what we want to safeguard,” she concluded.
For that reason, verification-based journalism remains essential to maintaining the quality of information in the digital era.
Conclusion
Amid escalating disinformation, mainstream media plays a strategic role in protecting public trust and national credibility. By prioritizing verification, professionalism, and analytical reporting, media institutions can help ensure that accurate information prevails over noise, strengthening Indonesia’s democratic resilience and global standing.
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