Media4Democracy visits Jakarta to prepare upcoming EU-Indonesia Seminar on Combatting Hate Speech and Disinformation

Indonesia, September 2018 – Media4Democracy experts have completed a week-long mission to Jakarta to support EU Delegation preparations for an October seminar on combatting hate speech and disinformation being convened jointly by the EU Delegation and the Government of Indonesia.

The EU-Indonesia joint seminar “Combatting hate speech and disinformation with a rights-based approach” will be held in Jakarta 17-18 October.  This event, supported through technical assistance from Media4Democracy, will bring together European and Indonesian experts, media, civil society and government bodies to consider ways to tackle online hate speech and disinformation in Indonesia and exchange best practice.

This initiative is an outcome of discussions between the EU and the Indonesia Government within the context of their bilateral Human Rights Dialogue and directly supports the Delegation’s policy to strengthen the respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights as enshrined in its Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the country.

The Media4Democracy team of thematic experts Joan Barata and Christiana Chelsia Chan and Media4Democracy Project Coordinator Angela Weis held wide-ranging meetings. The team joined a preparatory meeting with the EU Delegation and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.  A series of consultations were also held with civil society, media, business, international organisations and regulatory bodies in preparation of the seminar.

During the visit, Media4Democracy briefed Member States on issues related to hate speech and disinformation and presented perspectives of EU efforts to address these issues.

The upcoming seminar will include consideration of international and EU standards, the role of online and offline media as instruments to combat hate speech and disinformation in a proactive manner, and the role of online platforms (also known as intermediaries), particularly vis-à-vis their responsibilities regarding the content they facilitate or distribute.

Watch the video produced by the Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia Pusat, the Indonesia Broadcasting Commission (KPI):

More about the EU’s work in this field in Indonesia: https://media4democracy.eu/post-truth-world-seminar-in-jakarta-universities-m4ds-support-to-eud-to-indonesia/