The Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemenkominfo) stated that it is committed to protecting vulnerable groups from misuse of artificial intelligence technology such as deep fakes which are increasingly being used to create disinformation.

The Ministry of Communication and Information's commitment was emphasized ahead of the 2024 simultaneous general elections (Pemilu) as an anticipatory step against the spread of disinformation which usually occurs ahead of the five-yearly democratic party. The ministry targets vulnerable groups such as women, people living in rural areas, disabled groups, the elderly and children.

"The impact of disinformation can be very broad, starting from the potential for political polarization, decreasing trust in journalism to the democratic process itself," said Deputy Minister of Communication and Information (Wamenkominfo) Nezar Patria explaining the dangers of disinformation in an official statement in Jakarta, Friday.

He revealed that based on data, many people are worried about the dangers of disinformation in every election event in each country.

Nezar took data from a survey conducted by UNESCO and IPSOS in 2023 which revealed that 80 percent of people facing elections believe that disinformation has an impact on politics in their respective countries. Due to the impact of disinformation, the public is concerned about the impact of related disinformation.

In addition, the condition of misuse of AI technology in the spread of disinformation which increases every year can exacerbate the negative impact of disinformation on society.

Data from Home Security Heroes, quoted by the Ministry of Communication and Information, shows that in 2023 there will be at least 95,820 deep fake videos spread globally. This number has increased by 550 percent in the last four years, to be precise since 2019.

Reflecting on these data, the Ministry of Communication and Information emphasizes its commitment to protecting vulnerable groups from disinformation which often causes harm to society.

The steps taken by the Ministry of Communication and Information to make this happen is by using an inclusive approach to introduce digital technology and how to use it appropriately to vulnerable groups.

"An inclusive approach is able to provide digital technology that can be accessed and adopted by everyone, and supports meaningful and safe use of the internet and digital services," said Nezar.