Government Communication Ethics in the Digital Era: A Case Study of the Work-From-Home Policy Announcement for State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59890/ijmbi.v4i3.1Keywords:
Perceived Price Fairness, Pejrceived Risk, Purchase Decision, E-commerce, Consumer BehaviorAbstract
This study examines the ethics of government communication in Indonesia’s digital era, focusing on the announcement of the Work-From-Home (WFH) policy for State Civil Apparatus (ASN) issued on 31 March 2026. The policy was introduced in response to the geopolitical crisis triggered by the United States–Israel military offensive against Iran, which disrupted global oil supplies and increased crude oil prices above US$91 per barrel. Using a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with communication ethics experts and media observers, supported by document analysis and media monitoring, this study evaluates the policy announcement against established communication ethics frameworks. The findings indicate that although the policy had a legitimate fiscal objective, its communication was marked by fragmented institutional responsibility, inconsistent messaging, limited public engagement through digital channels, and the absence of crisis communication protocols. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), which formally holds responsibility for public communication, played a limited role, while communication was largely led by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs. This institutional mismatch contributed to public confusion and weakened trust. The study recommends the adoption of an integrated ethics-based communication governance framework to improve future government policy communication in the digital era.
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