Legal accountability of news sourced from citizen journalism and social media

Citizen journalism and social media have become primary sources of information in the digital era. However, information disseminated through these platforms is often unverified, posing risks of misinformation or hoaxes. This article examines the legal accountability for news sourced from citizen journalism and social media, focusing on both individuals who initially spread the information and the mass media that cite it. Using a normative legal approach, this study analyzes relevant regulations, such as the Press Law, the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE), and the Criminal Code (KUHP). The findings indicate that legal accountability in this context can be categorized into three aspects: criminal, civil, and administrative liability, considering the principles of fault liability, strict liability, and vicarious liability. Mass media that publish news from citizen journalism or social media without verification may face criminal, civil, or administrative sanctions. Additionally, individuals who initially spread false or hoax news may be legally prosecuted under the UU ITE and KUHP. Doxing, as a form of privacy violation, also carries serious legal implications and may be subject to sanctions under the UU ITE and KUHP.