Many consider LGBTQIA+ as the most discriminated group in minorities. While Shia Muslims are highly discriminated against, they too discriminate against the LGBTQIA+ group. What cannot be blamed on other discriminated minorities is usually placed on this group. For example, many are blamed for pedophilia, the world ending, and natural disasters. LGBTQIA+ hoaxes are very sensitive, as multiple groups discriminate against them. The basis for hate for queerness can come from other religions, other socio-cultural norms, etc. The disinformation like how gay people are predators is hard to combat given the different arguments people can throw. 

LGBTQIA+ Fake News Campaigns in Indonesia Minorities 

Propaganda-style fake news is usually used, targeting mostly ethnic and religious tensions. This is usually due to the fear of ethnic takeover. For example, In the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial elections, several participants recall the case of Chinese Indonesian and Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama being falsely accursed of various slanders. People feared the "Chinese will flood the economy" or "Christians will take over". 

Election Fake News Campaigns in Indonesia Minorities 

Stemming from historical stereotypes and prejudice against other religions, there is a continuous perpetuation of false information regarding various religions. Two particular groups that are often attacked are Christians and Shia Muslims. People's knowledge of Christianity span from questioning Jesus Christ's resurrection and the fear of their conversion of others. Shia Muslims reportedly grew up with many hoaxes surrounding them and being disregarded for their religion. 

Religious Fake News Campaigns in Indonesia Minorities 

To prevent vaccine usage, disinformation on vaccines are spread. The content of the fake news usually contains false information on other ethnicities to put blame on them. For example, a campaign used to target ethnic Chinese includes assertions that Sinovac vaccines were a “way to hurt Islamic countries like Indonesia,”.  Statements also said the vaccines were laced with “microchips to spy on Indonesians,” and that they contained non-halal ingredients.

COVID-19 and Vaccine Fake News Campaigns in Indonesia Minorities 

- Election Campaigns 
- COVID-19 and Vaccine Campaigns 
- Religious Campaigns 
- LGBTQIA+ Campaigns 


Ohio State University, Columbus

Campaigns that paint a certain course of action as being specific to one’s identity. These campaigns emphasize that not taking that certain action threatens one’s identity itself.

Disinformation Campaigns

Of social discipline and control: The impact of fake news and disinformation on minorities in Indonesia | Association for Progressive Communications. (2021). Of Social Discipline and Control: The Impact of Fake News and Disinformation on Minorities in Indonesia. https://www.apc.org/en/pubs/social-discipline-and-control-impact-fake-news-and-disinformation-minorities-indonesia

Of social discipline and control: The impact of fake news and disinformation on minorities in Indonesia 

During the 2016 British referendum on whether to secede from or stay in the EU, a digital firm called Aggregate IQ was hired to generate content pieces for Facebook users in order to create an identity-based call to action to “vote leave.”

Brexit Campaign

Disinformation campaigns can alter patterns such as voting behavior of individuals, as these campaigns activate culturally-fluent identity based reasoning. This new identity that is formed can carry over to future judgements because once the identity is "activated", any associated actions and values will also be activated. 

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