inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police (INP) urges the public to be more careful when receiving and sharing information in the digital space. They are urged to not only look at the content or number of posts, but also to verify the source, time, location, and context of the information before believing it.
This appeal is made as part of an effort to build public awareness and digital literacy amidst the rapid flow of information on social media. Old content can recirculate and be used in different contexts, potentially giving rise to misinformation.
The Head of the Public Relations Division of INP, Inspector General Johnny Eddizon Isir, stated that the public plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy digital space by refraining from hastily sharing unverified information.
"Amidst the current rapid flow of information, we need to practice not immediately believing or spreading content. Look at the source, check the time, check the context, and cross-check information with reliable sources," Isir said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday (8/25/2026).
Isir explained that one pattern that requires attention is the recirculation of old content or videos accompanied by a new narrative. Several searches revealed videos that had previously circulated in 2025 and reappeared in posts with a different context in 2026.
According to him, the reappearance of old content does not necessarily mean that all the information accompanying it is incorrect. However, changes in context and captions within a piece of content need to be scrutinized to prevent the public from drawing conclusions based on unverified information.
"Old content can reappear under different circumstances. Therefore, we need to ensure not only whether the video is real, but also whether the time, location, and accompanying narrative align with the actual situation," he explained.
He also cautioned that the number of accounts posting similar information does not always indicate that the information has been confirmed. Replication of content can make information appear more widespread, even if its source and veracity are unclear.
"Don't use the number of reposts as a measure of truth. The more information we receive, the more important it is for us to check and cross-check," said Isir.
INP encourages the public not to be easily provoked by unclear information and to allow space for the verification process before drawing conclusions or sharing them with others.
(ad/ta/pr/rs)
