Amnesty International says Indonesian authorities are using online disinformation campaigns to target and silence critics, including activists and journalists. In a report released Tuesday, Amnesty alleges that government-linked actors, including elements of the military, spread fake or misleading content to brand opponents as “foreign agents.” Amnesty also reports that these campaigns can escalate beyond online activity, including physical threats against people who face the accusations.
The report highlights broader political concerns, stating that Indonesia—described as the world’s third-largest democracy—may be backsliding toward greater military influence under President Prabowo Subianto. Amnesty characterizes Prabowo’s leadership as involving an expanded role for the military, and links that trend to heightened pressure on dissent.
The allegations focus on how disinformation is used to discredit critics and constrain public debate, rather than on specific named cases in the excerpts provided. Amnesty’s findings reflect an effort to document patterns of coordinated narratives aimed at restricting civil society and the media.
