PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. GARUT - Garut Regency Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Garut Regency introduced the Internet Content Monitoring Fas Team as a preventive measure to prevent violations and monitor content on news portals and social media (social media).

Coordinator of the Prevention, Community Participation and Public Relations Division, Lamlam Masropah, explained that the formation of this team was in line with Bawaslu Circular Letter Number 51 of 2023.

He revealed that the Fas Team is tasked with identifying accounts and/or content circulating on social media, conducting electoral literacy education both online and offline, publishing content containing counter narratives (prebunking) on developing hoaxes, fact checking (debunking) on developing hoaxes, publishing fact check results, and carrying out collaborative prevention with multi-stakeholder elections in Garut Regency.

"In carrying out the duties of the social media monitoring team, we have made various efforts in accordance with the mandate of SE 51, from identifying accounts via social media to collaborative prevention with multi-stakeholders in Garut," said Lamlam after completing the Communication Forum Talkshow program and Solutions (FOCUS) Volume 31, on Radio Intan Streaming, Monday (11/12/2023).

Lamlam explained that in monitoring internet (cyber) content, Bawaslu Garut carries out cyber surveillance patrols which ideally collaborate with the Department/Authority that handles communications and information. The objects of supervision are the accounts of election participants who have been registered with the General Election Commission (KPU) of Garut Regency.

"If it is an alleged election violation, then it will be referred to the relevant division, namely the calendar division (or) handling violations. If it is not an election violation, it will be forwarded to the relevant institutions through the same Timfas at Bawaslu RI in stages," he said.

In this cyber supervision, added Lamlam, a hotline regarding hoax complaints is also provided, via number 08119810123, so that if people find violations of social media content, they can report it to the hotline, or via email timfas [email protected].

The Fas Team ensures that Cyber Surveillance is present for the continuity of the election stages, especially during the campaign period, with the aim of avoiding content that can divide society. Lamlam reminded that hoaxes have a broad impact and have the potential to trigger polarization. Through Timfas' work, it is hoped that the number of hoaxes can be reduced.

"Hoax content doesn't take a lot of time, it's short, but it has a long-lasting effect on society, it can divide and create polarization. The hope is that through Timfas' work, in the future, similar content, especially hate speech, is hoped that the number of hoaxes can be reduced," he said. (rdp*)