Financial Authority Warns Influencers Against Misleading Public on Economic Census

Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) has issued a stern warning to social media content creators and financial influencers, urging them not to mislead the public regarding the 2026 Economic Census. This directive comes in response to social media content that has erroneously linked the census, conducted by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), to taxation issues, potentially discouraging public cooperation.

Friderica Widyasari Dewi, Chairperson of the OJK Board of Commissioners, stated at a seminar that the authority is finalizing regulations, specifically POJK Number 6 of 2026, concerning influencers. The core aim of this regulation is to protect the public by establishing guidelines, limitations, and sanctions for influencers and other non-official entities disseminating information about financial services.

Rizal Ramadhani, OJK's Deputy Commissioner for Supervision of Financial Services Business Actors' Behavior and Consumer Protection, explained that the influencer regulation is part of OJK's broader effort to maintain market integrity. "Not just anyone can speak about the financial services sector because it can mislead the public," he said. He added that individuals wishing to provide financial education must complete OJK's Learning Management System (LMS) to receive a certificate of completion, ensuring they are competent.

The OJK reiterated its support for the 2026 Economic Census, a decennial national agenda crucial for understanding Indonesia's economic landscape. The authority expressed confidence in the credibility of BPS officials. However, OJK acknowledged the possibility of scams exploiting the census and advised the public to remain vigilant, cross-check officials' identities, and verify their affiliation with BPS. Friderica emphasized the importance of public awareness to prevent such fraudulent activities.