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Jakarta: The Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Komjen Agus Andrianto, has instructed his staff to take firm action against those who spread false information or hoaxes that interfere with the government’s efforts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Agus ensured that his party would not tolerate this act because it involved the safety of the Indonesian people.

“If it is related to interfering with the government’s efforts in handling COVID-19, this is a firm action,” Agus said in a written statement, Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

Agus does not want the public to be confused in responding to hoax information. Fake news related to COVID-19 is spreading on social media, be it Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp.

“Don’t let this community be confused by the many fake news that are developing in the community,” said the former head of the National Police’s Security Maintenance Agency (Kabaharkam).

However, Agus asked the members to prioritize restorative justice efforts for those who spread hoaxes. That is when the spread of fake news targets someone’s personality.

Because it doesn’t have a big impact. Agus said such cases could be resolved through mediation.

“If a person-to-person violation applies restorative justice and a circular (SE) of the National Police Chief,” said the three-star general.

The SE Chief of the National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, was referring to awareness of ethical culture in the digital world. The National Police Chief considers the development of the national situation regarding the application of Law (UU) Number 19 of 2016 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE).

There are provisions in the ITE Law which are considered contradictory to the people’s right to freedom of expression through the digital space. The National Police issued a SE containing 11 points that must be guided by Polri investigators in enforcing the ITE Law. One of them is prioritizing mediation between the complainant and the reported party.

This instruction was conveyed by Agus to all members during an internal meeting at the National Police Headquarters, South Jakarta, Tuesday morning, July 20, 2021. The meeting was held virtually and witnessed by all members of the Indonesian National Police.