Advokasi Kebijakan dalam Pencegahan Penyebaran Berita Hoaks oleh Dinas Komunikasi dan Informatika Sumatera Utara

Abstract

The spread of hoaxes has become a serious challenge in the digital era, particularly in shaping public opinion and threatening social stability. The widespread dissemination of hoax news in North Sumatera indicates that efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation in the region have not been caried out optimally. One way to advocate for the rights and justice of hoax victims is through policy advocacy. Policy advocacy emphasizes the importance of understanding the policymaking process, the actors involved, and the methods used to mobilize support in order to drive policy change that prioritizes public interests. This study employs a descriptive qualitative method, with data collected through interviews, field observations, and analysis of relevant documents. The informants in this research consist of government officials directly involved in the implementation of policy advocacy in the field of public information and communication oversight. The analysis is based on the six dimensions of the Johns Hopkins University policy advocacy framework: analysis, strategy, mobilization, action, evaluation, and sustainability. This research aims to analyze how policy advocacy is conducted by the Department of Communication and Informatics of North Sumatra Province in their efforts to prevent the spread of hoaxes. The findings reveal that current advocacy practices face various challenges, including the absence of specific local. The research aims to analyze how policy advocacy is conducted by the Dapertement of Communication and Informatics of North Sumatra Province in their efforts to prevent the spread of hoaxes. The findings reveal that current advocacy practices face various challenges, including the absence of specific local regulations addressing hoax prevention, limited human resources, inadequate digital infrastructure, insufficient funding for monitoring and digital literacy initiatives, lack of coordination among stakeholders, and low levels of digital literacy among the public. The study recommends strengthening local regulations, enchancing the capacity of civil servants, integrating digital literacy into the education system, establishing date-based evaluation mechanism, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration to produce participatory, contextual, and sustainable public policies.