Amnesty report says coordinated disinformation campaigns were used to silence critics in Indonesia

A new report from Amnesty International has raised serious concerns about the state of civil liberties in Indonesia, alleging that President Prabowo Subianto’s administration oversaw coordinated online disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting government critics, human rights defenders, independent journalists and civil society organizations. The report says these campaigns rely heavily on portraying dissenting voices as “foreign agents,” a tactic that Amnesty says contributes to a broader erosion of democratic freedoms and the normalization of authoritarian practices.

The 160-page report, title Build imaginary enemiesexamines developments during the first eighteen months of Prabowo’s presidency, which began in October 2024. According to Amnesty, state institutions and government-aligned actors have increasingly used social media platforms and public rhetoric to stigmatize critics by suggesting they are working on behalf of foreign interests seeking to undermine Indonesia. The organization says such accusations are often made without evidence and aim to delegitimize the opposition while distracting from important public concerns.

Amnesty’s findings suggest that the current government has intensified trends already begun under the presidency of Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi. Rather than depart from previous policies, the report says Prabowo’s government has accelerated its efforts to marginalize critics and restrict civic space.

According to Amnesty, the repeated use of “foreign agent” rhetoric serves several political purposes. This allows authorities and their supporters to question the patriotism and legitimacy of activists, journalists and organizations that challenge government policies. By framing criticism as part of a foreign-backed conspiracy, officials can avoid getting to the heart of the criticism themselves while rallying nationalist sentiment among their supporters.

The report says this strategy has become increasingly visible in public discourse and online environments, where coordinated campaigns amplify accusations against individuals and groups perceived to challenge government priorities.

One of the most prominent examples highlighted in the report concerns Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of KontraS, a leading Indonesian human rights organization. Yunus has sharply criticized what he describes as the increasing militarization of Indonesian politics and governance.

Amnesty documents how online attacks against Yunus began in March 2025 after he participated in peaceful protests against revisions to Indonesia’s military law. The revised legislation allows active-duty military personnel to hold more civilian government positions, a move that critics say could weaken democratic oversight and blur the distinction between military and civilian authority.

According to the report, social media accounts allegedly linked to political actors associated with Prabowo’s Gerindra Party circulated videos accusing Yunus and his fellow activists of acting as “foreign agents” seeking to weaken Indonesia’s armed forces. Amnesty says the accusations lacked evidence and were intended to undermine the credibility of peaceful protesters.

The situation worsened significantly on March 12, 2026, when Yunus was seriously injured in an acid attack in Jakarta. Amnesty notes that online disinformation campaigns continued even after the attack, with anonymous testimonies claiming that Yunus staged the attack to attract foreign funding and international sympathy.

Subsequent investigations reportedly led to the arrest of four military officers linked to the Indonesian Strategic Intelligence Agency. Amnesty cites the arrests as evidence linking elements of the state security apparatus to the attack, raising new concerns about the safety of activists and critics in Indonesia.

Beyond reputational damage, Amnesty warns that being labeled a foreign agent can now carry significant legal consequences under Indonesia’s revised penal code.

The report highlights provisions that criminalize certain forms of engagement with foreign organizations or individuals when authorities believe those relationships are linked to efforts to undermine or overthrow the government. Those convicted under these provisions face prison sentences of up to ten years.

Human rights advocates say legislation written in broad terms creates opportunities for abuse, particularly when coupled with politically motivated charges. Critics fear that activists, journalists, researchers and civil society organizations involved in legitimate international cooperation could become vulnerable to prosecution if authorities choose to interpret their activities as threats to national security.

Amnesty says the combination of legal pressure and online disinformation creates a chilling effect, discouraging public criticism and limiting citizens’ ability to freely participate in democratic debate.

The report includes testimony from journalists and observers who believe that talk of “foreign agents” has become a recurring element of political communication under the current administration.

A senior journalist interviewed by Amnesty, who requested anonymity, said government officials are increasingly relying on accusations of foreign interference to respond to criticism. According to the journalist, criticism is often presented as serving external interests rather than expressing legitimate domestic concerns.

Amnesty says this rhetoric contributes to the creation of what it describes as “imaginary enemies” – perceived threats that help justify restrictions on dissent and build support for government policies. By portraying critics as agents of hostile foreign forces, authorities can distract public attention from political debates and present the opposition as a threat to national unity.

The report describes four major disinformation campaigns that allegedly took place during the first eighteen months of Prabowo’s presidency.

According to Amnesty, three of these campaigns involved social media accounts linked to at least 63 military-affiliated entities. The campaigns targeted several groups and movements, including:

• Human rights defenders protesting amendments to military law;
• Participants in the “Indonesia Gelap” protest movement, born in February 2025;
• Journalists and staff associated with Tempo media.

A fourth campaign reportedly targeted the Center for Economic and Legal Studies, an Indonesian policy research organization known for analyzing economic and governance issues.

Amnesty says many of these campaigns followed a similar pattern. Social media content frequently highlighted international partnerships, foreign grants, or donor relationships and presented them as evidence of hidden agendas. The report claims that normal forms of international cooperation have been taken out of context and used to construct conspiracy theories depicting the organizations as tools of foreign influence.

Among the organizations targeted was Tempo, one of Indonesia’s most respected independent media institutions.

Amnesty describes a viral TikTok video that combined an edited segment of a speech by President Prabowo with references to Tempo’s financial support from the Media Development Investment Fund. The video allegedly suggests that foreign investment was compromising the editorial independence of the outlet and portraying the publication as an instrument of outside interests.

According to Amnesty, the video provided no evidence that foreign funding had influenced Tempo’s journalism. However, he concluded by characterizing the publication as a foreign element operating under the guise of independent media.

Press freedom advocates warn that such stories can undermine public trust in journalism and make journalists more vulnerable to harassment, intimidation and threats. They argue that independent media play a crucial role in democratic societies by holding governments to account and providing citizens with reliable information.

Amnesty’s report has intensified debate over the direction of Indonesia’s democracy under President Prabowo. Human rights groups say online disinformation, legal pressure and stigmatization of critics pose serious threats to freedom of expression, freedom of association and independent journalism.

Government officials had not publicly responded to Amnesty’s allegations at the time of the report’s publication. According to the report, requests for comment sent to Indonesia’s presidential office and the State Secretariat were not responded to before publication.

As Indonesia continues to face political and social challenges, the report highlights growing concerns among human rights advocates that democratic institutions could face increasing pressure if criticism is routinely framed as foreign interference. Amnesty maintains that safeguarding civil liberties requires protecting the rights of activists, journalists and ordinary citizens to express dissent without fear of intimidation, violence or politically motivated accusations.

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