Indonesia sets up agency to combat fake news

As fake news continues to spread, one country's government is sitting up and taking it seriously.

Indonesia is setting up an agency to tackle fake news, and the directive is coming all the way from the top, AFP reports.

The country's president, Joko Widodo, has ordered the immediate establishment of a National Cyber Agency.

The agency is tasked with monitoring news circulating online, and will be working alongside other government agencies.

Chief security minister Wiranto said the agency will tackle media that is "slanderous, fake, misleading and spread hate."

The directive comes as the country grapples with false reports circulating on social media. Last month for instance, reports of China intentionally contaminating chili seeds went viral, as well as others that claimed millions of Chinese workers had entered Indonesia to replace locals.

Earlier this week, the Indonesian Communications Ministry blocked 11 websites for spreading hate speech and fake news.

The country's largest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama, launched an anti-fake news campaign online called #TurnBackTheHoax, and the country's religious leaders have also labelled the spreading of fake news "a sin."

In tackling the grey area between fake and authentic news reports, Indonesia continues to toe the censorship line as more of its population come online.

Last year, the country banned LGBTQ emoji and stickers from popular messaging applications, and enacted a countrywide block on Tumblr for two days over pornographic content.