The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of Indonesia held a Literacy Forum for Election Oversight and Public Information Transparency in West Bandung on Sunday (20/7/2025).
The Head of the West Java Bawaslu Secretariat stated that this initiative aims to raise public awareness about the importance of access to valid information and active citizen participation in ensuring fair and honest election oversight.
“This forum serves not only to socialize the right to public information but also to strengthen digital literacy,” they said on Sunday (20/7/2025).
They added that the event also educates the public on countering the spread of hoaxes and hate speech, which often surge during election periods.
“This forum educates the public, especially youth and students, on the importance of information transparency. The goal is clear: to help them filter the information they receive and avoid becoming part of the hoax dissemination chain.”
Furthermore, they explained that this is a nationally limited initiative due to budget constraints. Several provinces were selected as pilot locations, with West Java being one of them.
“We acknowledge budget limitations as a challenge, but our spirit is limitless. We hope such forums help the public understand accessible public information and how election oversight functions.”
They emphasized that the public can now access various official channels—both national and regional—for information on Bawaslu’s duties, authority, and performance. They also encouraged responsible and proactive use of information access rights.
“We hope the public doesn’t passively wait for information but actively seeks it. Bawaslu has opened access to oversight reports, violation data, and other public records.”
Meanwhile, the Acting Chair of Bawaslu welcomed the initiative to host the forum in their region, aligning with democratic values of transparency and civic participation.
“We fully support this agenda. The forum is vital for public outreach, bridging the gap between citizens and election organizers.”
They added that social media must be used responsibly, urging participants and the public to become critical and wise users.
“We live in a fast-paced information era. Social media can be an effective oversight tool but also a source of misinformation if misused. Hence, such education is crucial.”
They stressed that beyond transparency awareness, the forum also facilitates discussions on combating hoaxes, misinformation, and low digital literacy.
“Through this forum, Bawaslu aims to foster a healthy information ecosystem where the public can easily access accurate information and contribute to safeguarding election integrity.”
