Analysis of Government Legitimacy Through Hoax Handling by the Department of Communication and Informatics of West Java Province
Keywords:
government legitimacy, rational-legal legitimacy, hoax handling, Jabar Saber Hoaks, Department of Communication and Informatics of West Java Province.Abstract
The increasing spread of hoaxes in West Java shows that addressing disinformation remains a challenge in public information management. Although the Government of West Java Province, through the Department of Communication and Informatics, has established Jabar Saber Hoaks as an official channel for information clarification, its contribution to building public trust and strengthening government legitimacy still needs to be examined. This study analyzes government legitimacy through hoax handling using a rational-legal legitimacy perspective, which includes bureaucratic rationality, procedural legitimacy, public trust, and institutional transparency. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation involving nine informants consisting of the Head of the Department of Communication and Informatics of West Java Province, the Head of Public Information and Communication Division, two Jabar Saber Hoaks staff members, and five members of the public. The results show that the legitimacy of the Government of West Java Province through hoax handling has been established relatively well. This is reflected in systematic division of tasks and coordination, the implementation of fact-based verification procedures, public trust in the information provided by Jabar Saber Hoaks, and information transparency through various communication and reporting channels. The government's communication strategy also supports institutional transparency through the use of various digital platforms, simplified information presentation, and the provision of opportunities for public interaction. However, hoax handling still faces several challenges, including the rapid flow of information, developments in digital technology, the complexity of verification processes, limitations in field investigation, uneven publication reach, and varying levels of digital literacy among the public. The efforts undertaken include strengthening collaboration, improving human resource capacity, developing digital communication strategies, and promoting digital literacy. This study concludes that hoax handling is one form of government function that contributes to the formation and maintenance of the legitimacy of the Government of West Java Province in the digital environment
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