Jakarta. A TikTok video gaining traction on social media showcases the interim results of the 2024 Presidential Election vote count in six countries, including Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) Hasyim Asyari has denied the video's authenticity.

He said the vote tally outside Indonesia can only be conducted after the elections within the country are completed, simultaneously with the domestic count.

"The overseas vote count is carried out using the methods of polling stations (TPS), posts, voting organizer committees (KSK), and polling stations committees (PPS), and the results are tabulated concurrently with the domestic elections," said Hasyim during a press conference at the KPU office on Monday.

Voting overseas took place earlier than the scheduled voting in Indonesia, which is set for Wednesday.  Most of the Indonesian citizens in various countries such as Malaysia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Tokyo, and Chile have cast their votes in the 2024 elections as of Sunday. Meanwhile, voters in China, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Madagascar, and Papua New Guinea are scheduled to vote on Wednesday.

Hasyim Asyari emphasized that any publication of vote results before the official count begins should be disregarded.

"Surveys can be conducted through two methods, quick count, and exit poll. The quick count method can be derived from the polling stations and is known in the evenings or early mornings.

"Exit poll, on the other hand, involves asking voters immediately after voting by researchers. The responses are recorded and compiled into their predictive results," he added.

Vote counting is regulated by Law Number 7 of 2017 on Elections. On Monday, KPU released a list of 81 certified survey institutions eligible to participate in the quick count process for the 2024 elections.

Article 449 of the law stipulates that the announcement of the estimated results of the quick count can only be made at least 2 hours after the completion of voting in the western part of Indonesia. Violations of this provision constitute an electoral crime.

"The question is, did those who published it yesterday register with the KPU or not? Is there a certificate from the KPU or not? It can be checked," said Hasyim.

Disinformation Campaigns Impact on Public Perception

In a separate interview, Michael Sentonas, President of cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, said disinformation attempting to shift perception, subvert voting preferences, and destabilize democracy is a significant concern.

"Today, the global weaponization of content through the use of generative AI and mass communications tools such as social media platforms aims to achieve the broadest societal impact. It also allows for any individual at home to create content that supports their narrative resulting in an explosion of content that can be very difficult for people to navigate," Sentonas told the Jakarta Globe on Monday.

"The sharing of disinformation is a much easier way to raise questions about the integrity of an election and the eventual result. The mere sowing of doubt into the minds of an electorate can disrupt confidence in democratic systems," he added. 

The challenge for the public is that the source sites and web pages housing disinformation content look legitimate and can easily be mistaken for real information sources. 

"The public needs to understand the source of the information they’re consuming, the actors producing misinformation, the motivations of the source and validate and verify what they are reading, listening to and viewing is accurate. This level of awareness and understanding stems from educating the public on the importance of verification," he said.