Fake News Using Presidents' Names Circulate on Social Media, Raising Concerns Over Public Discernment

Fake news, often referred to as 'hoaxes,' is increasingly circulating on Indonesian social media, frequently leveraging the names of prominent political figures, including current and former presidents. Liputan6.com's fact-checking team has identified several instances where the reputations and names of President Prabowo Subianto, former President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), and former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) have been misused to spread misinformation. These hoaxes manifest in various formats, ranging from fabricated news articles and misleading videos to manipulated photographs and deceptive links. The primary concern is the potential for such content to confuse and mislead the public, thereby undermining their ability to make informed decisions. One notable example of a hoax involves claims about former President SBY being hospitalized in July 2026. Accompanying posts on platforms like Facebook included purported photographs of SBY in a hospital bed, receiving visits from political figures such as Prabowo Subianto and economist Rizal Ramli. The images also depicted SBY's son, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, who currently serves as the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, in a white uniform. However, rigorous fact-checking by Liputan6.com has confirmed these claims to be false. Another instance of misinformation targets former President Jokowi, with a photo circulating since early September 2026 depicting him reading a book titled "Islam Ala Prabowo." The accompanying narrative suggested that Jokowi was engaging with content related to Prabowo's perspectives on Islam, prompting speculation about its implications. Liputan6.com's investigation has debunked this claim as well. Furthermore, a hoax has emerged alleging that President Prabowo Subianto advocated for the closure of local village shops to encourage residents to patronize village cooperatives (Kopdes). This misinformation, shared on Facebook in mid-September 2026, included a photo of President Prabowo and a fabricated quote attributed to him, suggesting that village shops were unproductive and should be shut down. Fact-checkers have refuted this, clarifying that President Prabowo has emphasized the importance of healthy competition and the protection of small businesses, stating that people's shops should not be forcibly closed. Liputan6.com's commitment to combating the spread of misinformation is underscored by its establishment of the "Cek Fakta Liputan6.com" initiative in 2018. This program aims to enhance media literacy among the Indonesian populace. The fact-checking team operates independently and is a member of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), further solidifying its credibility and adherence to journalistic standards. They also maintain a partnership with Facebook to help identify and flag misleading content. Source: Liputan6