Indonesia gives Meta ‘stern warning’ over disinformation

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia’s communications ministry has issued a “stern warning” to Meta Platforms Incorporated for failing to curb the spread of online gambling and disinformation, the ministry said on Thursday, March 5.

The warning came after Indonesia’s Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid on Wednesday, March 4, made an unscheduled visit to Meta’s operational office in Jakarta.

Meta was warned over its low level of compliance with Indonesia’s regulation regarding the spread of content that involved disinformation, online gambling, defamation and hate speech across its platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, the ministry said.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meta had taken action over only 28.47% of flagged content related to online gambling and disinformation, the ministry said.

“Disinformation, defamation, and hate content threaten lives in Indonesia, yet Meta has allowed them to persist,” Meutya said.

The ministry urged Meta to strengthen its content moderation systems and accelerate the removal of illegal and harmful material.

The ministry had summoned representatives of Meta and other social media platforms last year and ordered them to boost content moderation due to the spread of disinformation. – Rappler.com