Addressing hate speech and disinformation in Indonesia

With the support of Media4Democracy and its Consortium Partners Particip and Thomson Foundation, the EU Delegation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia hosted a seminar in Jakarta from 17 – 18 October 2018 to address hate speech and disinformation.

Indonesia has a vibrant society and a diverse media space with social, political and cultural discourse both online and offline. While authorities support the principle of free exchange of ideas, there is also a growing concern regarding the impact that certain forms of harmful speech may have on social harmony and mutual respect.
Seeking ways to address hate speech and disinformation from a human rights perspective, the EU Delegation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia hosted a two-day seminar in Jakarta from 17 to 18 October. This broad and participative event attended by 120 participants was agreed as a follow-up to the EU-Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue 2018 and aimed at facilitating exchanges on approaches to addressing hate speech and disinformation with the proper protection and exercise of the right to freedom of expression according to international and European standards.

At the two-day event in Jakarta, these matters were addressed by combining and comparing Indonesian and EU approaches and experiences on dealing with hate speech and various forms of disinformation. It was organized around three main thematic areas: legal standards, the role of the media, and the role of online platforms. The event was joined by European and Indonesian speakers and participants, among them legal scholars, government and public officials, media actors and civil society, as well as representatives of the EU and its Member States. Participants discussed the need to address hate speech and disinformation through a comprehensive analysis incorporating diverse and complementary perspectives, principles and interests.

In occasion of Right to Know Day 2018, Media4Democracy and its lead Consortium partner Particip produced a 60-second animation video showing the positive impact of access to information on citizens’ lives.

Particip & Media4Democracy

In September 2018, Particip was launching its first Media4Democracy fellowship program to strengthen leadership skills of emerging leaders working in organizations at the forefront of promoting and protecting media pluralism and freedom in Tanzania. Particip and its Media4Democracy team also supported the EU Delegation in its contribution to World Press Freedom Day 2018, held in Accra with the opportunity to promote the right to access to information. Media4Democracy organized a lecture at the University of Ghana to provide 200 media, political science and other students the opportunity to hear from some of Europe and Africa’s leading experts on the right to information.

About Particip

Particip GmbH – Your Partner in Change was founded in 1989 and is now an independent, internationally-recognized consultancy company, offering the expertise and the know-how gained in over a thousand assignments worldwide. Services provided by the company focus on international development and include monitoring and evaluation, capacity and organizational development, technical assistance, policy advice, development of management guidelines at policy, programme and project level, and studies, surveys, and analyses – all services covering a broad variety of sectors and themes. Particip inter- and multidisciplinary teams work for international organizations such as the European Commission, the Council of Europe, etc. as well as for a large number of national public and private organizations such as ministries and development organizations.

Original source: Media4Democracy