2021
Fighting the Covid-19 Pandemic with a Fact Check-M Rodhi Aulia (journalist)-Medcom.id
Country/area: Indonesia
Organisation: Medcom.id
Organisation size: Big
Publication date: 18 Oct 2020
Credit: Medcom.id
Project description:
We, medcom.id, are involved in fighting the circulation of hoaxes in Indonesia. Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hoaxes greatly interfere with control of the spread of virus.
Among them, the public does not believe that there is Covid-19. So they ignore health protocols.
If one of them or their family member gets infected with COVID-19, then they believe it. Even though fighting Covid-19 doesn’t have to be a patient first.
We found hoaxes circulating on social media. Then we convey the facts and real data. Undisputed facts and data from the authorities or based on analysis of facts and data.
Impact reached:
The impact of our eradication of hoaxes is the spread of correct and accurate information in fighting Covid-19
Lots of articles that we make have been uploaded back to the official government website. Such as https://www.kominfo.go.id/content/all/leport_isu_hoaks and https://covid19.go.id/p/hoax-buster.
From there we also created a hoax buster community for Medcom.id fact-checking readers. We regularly receive hoax information and provide actual data or facts
Thus, Medcom.id readers in particular can be free from fake news
Techniques/technologies used:
The method we use in combating hoaxes. First, we conduct cyber patrols on social media.
We collect hoax indicated information. Then we examined the issues or hoax points that were circulating one by one.
We use a number of techniques and tools. To check for hoax information in the form of narrative, we use keywords in search engines. Like google.
If not found, we try to confirm directly to the authorities or related.
Second, to check for hoax information in the form of images, we use a reverse image technique. The search engines we usually use include image.google
Third, to check hoax information in the form of videos, we use the same thing as checking images or photos. However, it takes carefulness and accuracy in choosing a representative image
What was the hardest part of this project?
The most difficult part of this project was checking the hoax information in the form of a video. In this case, we find certain parties who try to blur the image on the video by zooming in and zooming out.
We have found videos like this uploaded several times on the YouTube channel. In the video, there are a number of different videos that are put together to lead to certain issues. In fact, there is no connection at all
One of the social media observers in Indonesia, Ismail Fahmi, the founder of Drone Emprit, stated that hoax information in the form of videos has the most potential to deceive citizens.
Meanwhile, if it is in the form of pictures or photos and text, people are relatively unbelievable. However, if it is in the form of a video and accompanied by bombastic text, the likelihood of netizens getting caught in fake news is very high
What can others learn from this project?
We are fortunate to be journalists who focus on fact checking. This is because most journalists only focus on producing news. They take it from outside the internet, then put it on the internet.
Meanwhile, in this era of social media, everyone can post “news” on the internet. Each person. Not only professional journalists.
Therefore, the potential for hoax news is very high. Therefore, every mass media platform should have a fact-checking team.
They are expected to balance or reduce the circulation of hoax narratives or fake news. In the end is the creation of a society that has information with guaranteed quality.
