Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital, Nezar Patria, officially expressed the government's support for the organization of the Indonesia Public Relations Convention 2026. The national-scale event, scheduled to take place in Surakarta on October 17–18, 2026, is expected to serve as a catalyst for the transformation of the PR profession amid the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Nezar delivered the statement after attending the convention's kick-off event in Jakarta on Saturday (11/07/2026). According to him, this forum is a crucial step for communication practitioners to formulate adaptation strategies in facing drastic changes in the global information landscape.
Nezar highlighted the increasingly massive adoption of AI in public communication operations. Although the technology offers significant work efficiency for both government agencies and businesses, new challenges in the form of disinformation threats and manipulative content accompany it. This is considered a serious threat to the public's credibility and trust in the flow of information.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the primary responsibility of PR today is to ensure that the use of technology remains rooted in ethical principles and the public interest. Information integrity must be prioritized so that the use of digital tools does not undermine the transparency and communication accountability that have been established so far.
Through the series of events at the Indonesia Public Relations Convention 2026, the government hopes to foster cross-sector collaboration among practitioners, academics, and policymakers. This synergy aims to create innovative communication practice standards while maintaining professional values in the era of digital transformation.
