On November 16, 2023, the Cultural and Media Studies Program at UGM partnered with CSIS to host a National Seminar on “Disinformation and Vulnerable Groups in the Era of Digital Media.” The seminar addressed the significant impact of technology and social media on information, especially in Indonesia, where a large population and increasing internet access face a serious threat of distorted perspectives due to disinformation. The event aimed to facilitate productive discussions among various stakeholders, including government, NGOs, researchers, academics, media professionals, and the public. The sessions explored the evolving challenges of disinformation, covering actors, motivations, strategies, narratives, and targets.
The seminar, held from 12:00 to 16:30 WIB, featured a keynote address by Deputy Minister of Ministry of Cummunication and Information, Nezar Patria, S.Fil., M.Sc., M.B.A. on “AI, Disinformation, and Vulnerable Groups in the Digital Media Era.” He highlighted the challen
ges posed by technologies like deepfake and the public’s concerns about disinformation impact. Emphasizing the need for digital transformation to benefit vulnerable groups, Kominfo outlined efforts to combat disinformation, including handling 962,719 negative contents and committing to The Bletchley Declaration for safe AI use. The seminar continued with a panel session led by three experts, discussing topics such as disinformation in Papua and its impact on vulnerable communities, especially women. The panelists were Dr. Vidyandhika Djati Perkasa, Tarlen Handayani, and Prof. Heru Nugroho. The seminar concluded with souvenir presentations and a group photo.
