Indonesia’s Military Disinformation Campaigns Target Dissent, Amnesty International Reports

Amnesty International has documented a surge in coordinated disinformation campaigns in Indonesia, where military-linked social media accounts are branding activists, journalists, and protesters as “foreign agents” to suppress dissent under President Prabowo Subianto. The report, titled *Building up Imaginary Enemies*, highlights how these efforts are fueling intimidation and violence while tech giants like Meta, TikTok, X, and YouTube fail to curb harmful content.

Systematic Discrediting of Government Critics

The report reveals that Indonesian authorities, including the military, have deployed online disinformation to retaliate against legitimate activism and public expression. Over 18 months since Prabowo’s election, such tactics have become a “key tactic” to “systematically discredit government critics, shut down public debate, and justify repression,” according to Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard. Online slurs often precede real-world intimidation and violent attacks against dissidents.

“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. The campaign aligns with a broader pattern of authoritarian practices, as noted in the report.

Role of Social Media Platforms

Meta, TikTok, X, and YouTube have been criticized for allowing harmful disinformation to spread rapidly. The report underscores the platforms’ failure to act on content that incites violence or spreads false narratives. “While social media companies sit back and let it happen,” Callamard said, “the result is a climate of fear that stifles free expression.”

Amnesty International’s research found that military-connected accounts disproportionately target academics, activists, and protesters, using fabricated claims to delegitimize their work. These efforts are part of a strategy to shift public focus away from “people’s legitimate grievances” and toward fabricated threats.

International Response and Calls for Accountability

The report has drawn condemnation from human rights advocates, who urge tech companies to adopt stricter content moderation policies. Amnesty International also calls on the Indonesian government to halt the use of disinformation as a tool of repression. “Governments must act to protect citizens from these tactics, and tech companies must prioritize human rights over profit,” the organization stated.

As Indonesia’s political landscape remains tense, the report serves as a stark reminder of the intersection between digital propaganda and human rights. The findings align with broader global concerns about the weaponization of social media to suppress dissent, a trend that has intensified in recent years.

Why It Matters: A Growing Threat to Free Speech

The disinformation campaigns in Indonesia reflect a troubling trend where authoritarian regimes leverage digital platforms to silence opposition. Similar strategies have been observed in other regions, but the scale and coordination of Indonesia’s efforts underscore the urgent need for accountability. For activists and journalists, the risks are real: online harassment often escalates into physical violence, as documented by Amnesty International.

“This isn’t just about misinformation—it’s about the systematic erosion of democratic norms,” said Callamard. The report emphasizes that without intervention, Indonesia’s crackdown on dissent could set a dangerous precedent for other nations grappling with similar challenges.