Training on misinformation and disinformation prevention for communities in Indonesia: A recap

Wikimedia Indonesia, in collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta, recently concluded a series of training sessions on combating misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech across three Indonesian cities—Yogyakarta, Makassar, and Medan. These workshops brought together Wikimedia communities and cultural groups to tackle pressing issues, offering both theoretical knowledge and hands-on training, and navigating the complexities of freedom of expression. A total of 58 participants attended the training, comprising 45 members of the Wikimedia communities and 13 representatives from cultural groups across Indonesia. This training serves as a follow-up to the initial training in August that involved Wikimedia project administrators in the languages spoken in  Indonesia. 

What has been implemented?

Over a month and a half, we hosted three training sessions in Yogyakarta (12–13 October), Makassar (26–27 October), and Medan (16–17 November). Each session featured expert speakers, including lecturers, journalists, fact-checkers, and representatives from the Wikimedia Foundation, who shared valuable insights on critical topics at hand. These materials are crucial for Wikimedia project contributors engaged in content moderation, as well as for cultural groups working to raise awareness directly within their local communities. 

Participants actively engaged in in-depth discussions and explored significant topics throughout the three training sessions. By leveraging UNESCO’s guidelines on regulating digital platforms and Wikimedia’s tools for community-driven content moderation, they gained valuable insights into tackling challenges like misinformation and disinformation, particularly in the context of 2024, a year with numerous elections. In addition to theoretical learning, they practiced skills such as moderating content on digital platforms and its relevance to Wikipedia and identifying credible sources or journals for verifying information. In the end, the sessions concluded with collaborative discussions, providing participants with a platform to effectively share ideas and initiatives to combat the spread of false information effectively. .  

What has been achieved?

The training sessions successfully brought together 45 members from the Wikimedia communities and 13 representatives from cultural groups to participate in the training sessions across three cities. We also achieved inclusivity by inviting participants from 16 provinces across Indonesia, from Aceh to West Papua. This diverse slate of attendees increased the potential for a broad audience to engage with and benefit from the topics presented, ensuring a wider dissemination of knowledge and insights. Notably, the participant pool achieved gender balance, further reinforcing inclusivity.

Beyond demographics, we improved participants’ knowledge and skills in understanding the topics of the training through an analysis of the pre- and post – training assessment data:

·   Yogyakarta: Among 17 participants, 23.5% expressed high confidence, and 64.7% reported moderate confidence in applying their learning.

·   Makassar: Of the 20 participants, 50% indicated high confidence in practicing content moderation.

·   Medan: Among 21 participants, 76.2% reported high confidence in applying content moderation techniques.

The results highlight the training sessions successfully improved participants’ knowledge and confidence in combating misinformation and disinformation. 

Lessons learned

The lively discussions between participants and speakers offered valuable insights, highlighting areas for improvement and future focus. One key takeaway was the importance of additional training sessions focused on specific thematic areas, particularly in relation to health topics. One participant highlighted the prevalent issue of misinformation in this domain, emphasizing the need for prompt attention and intervention. Additionally, there was a call for more interactive training sessions that promoted greater engagement from all participants, including members of the Wikimedia community and various cultural groups. This recommendation is based on the observation that the representation of participants from cultural groups was reasonably limited during the three training sessions.

Participants also acknowledged the training’s relevance to their roles, either as Wikipedia contributors or as cultural group activists. They understood the knowledge and skills they gained would directly support their ongoing projects and future initiatives. In addition, participants valued the efficient administrative and logistical support provided by the team and UNESCO.

Aghnisa Nursantika, from Wikimedia community in Banjarnegara, Central Java, said, “I am truly delighted to have attended this event with fellow Wikimedia friends, as it allowed us to share knowledge. I am also very grateful to have gained a deeper understanding of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Hopefully, this knowledge-transfer session will break the chain of false information, such as hoaxes, on the internet and social media.”

Next steps

Preventing misinformation and disinformation does not end with the training sessions alone. Upon completing the training program, participants will actively engage in follow-up activities. Two key activities are planned for the local Wikimedia communities:

·   Knowledge transfer sessions: these sessions will allow participants to share the insights gained during the training, fostering collaboration, and enhancing understanding within their local Wikimedia communities in their native languages

·   Article writing challenges: participants will be encouraged to implement their knowledge practically by contributing high-quality content to Wikimedia projects, especially the Indonesian Wikipedia.

Additionally, cultural groups that took part in these training will receive seed funding to host art performances in their local areas. These performances will be an opportunity for them to creatively express the insights gained from training while promoting cultural values and awareness among indigenous communities.