Indonesia’s Coordinated Disinformation Campaigns Target Dissenters

Amnesty International reports that the Indonesian military and government supporters are utilizing coordinated disinformation campaigns to silence activists, journalists, and academics. Published in the May 2026 report, Building up Imaginary Enemies, the findings detail how critics of President Prabowo Subianto are systematically labeled as “foreign agents” to justify intimidation and violence.

How Disinformation Functions as a Political Weapon

Since President Prabowo Subianto took office 18 months ago, authorities have increasingly used online disinformation to suppress public debate. According to Amnesty International, military-connected social media accounts spearhead these efforts by targeting individuals who express dissent. By branding protesters and human rights defenders as “foreign agents,” the state shifts public focus away from legitimate grievances and toward manufactured threats.

Agnès Callamard, Secretary General at Amnesty International, noted that these authoritarian practices have accelerated under the current administration. “This disinformation is a political weapon, deployed to consolidate the government’s power when public criticism intensifies, while demonizing and weakening those who dare to speak out,” Callamard stated. This cycle often begins with online slurs, which frequently precede physical intimidation or violent attacks against dissidents.

The Role of Tech Giants in Spreading Harm

A significant portion of the report criticizes major social media platforms for their failure to mitigate the spread of harmful content. Amnesty International identifies Meta, TikTok, X, and YouTube as key environments where these disinformation campaigns flourish.

The organization argues that these companies allow harmful content to remain online, effectively enabling the government’s strategy of discrediting critics. By failing to remove or curb coordinated smear campaigns, these platforms provide the infrastructure necessary for the state to weaken civil society.

Key Takeaways Regarding the Current Climate

* Strategic Labeling: The primary tactic involves labeling activists and journalists as “foreign agents” to erode their credibility.
* Escalation Path: Online disinformation is not an isolated event; it serves as a precursor to real-world intimidation and violence.
* Government Involvement: Research indicates that the military is actively involved in deploying these digital campaigns to protect the government’s power.
* Platform Complicity: Amnesty International asserts that major tech companies have not taken sufficient action to stop the rapid spread of this state-linked disinformation.

Future Outlook for Indonesian Activism

The trend toward digital repression suggests a difficult environment for those attempting to hold the government accountable. As Amnesty International’s report highlights, the use of disinformation as a tool of the state has become a systematic pattern rather than an outlier. Observers remain concerned that as long as tech platforms fail to intervene, the state’s ability to “build up imaginary enemies” will continue to shrink the space for legitimate expression and human rights advocacy in Indonesia.