Indonesian Authorities Used Online Disinformation to Label Critics as Foreign Agents
Amnesty International reported that Indonesian authorities and the military ran online disinformation campaigns targeting activists and journalists. The report said the campaigns labeled critics as foreign agents and sometimes led to physical threats.
South China Morning PostIndonesian authorities, including the military, used online disinformation campaigns to brand activists and journalists as “foreign agents” and silence dissent, sometimes leading to physical threats, Amnesty International said in a report released on Tuesday.
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard said the campaigns emerged as a key tactic to discredit government critics, shut down public debate and justify repression in the 18 months since President Prabowo Subianto took office.
The rights group found that the disinformation campaigns were driven by social media accounts that appeared to be affiliated with military units and with Prabowo’s Gerindra party. ” Neither Prabowo’s office nor the military immediately responded to a request for comment. Human rights activist Andrie Yunus was among those named in the report as a target of the campaigns.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
2 events- 19 May 2026
Amnesty International released report on Indonesian disinformation campaigns.
1 sourceSouth China Morning Post - 2024
President Prabowo Subianto took office and expanded military role in civilian affairs.
1 sourceSouth China Morning Post
Potential Impact
- 01
Targeted individuals may face increased physical threats from online campaigns.
- 02
Public debate on government policy may face further restrictions.
Transparency Panel
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