Indonesian Authorities Used Fake News to Brand Critics as ‘Foreign Agents’: Amnesty

Why It Matters

The tactics illustrate how state‑aligned disinformation can erode democratic debate and endanger civil‑society actors, raising urgent human‑rights and governance concerns for Indonesia and the region.

Key Takeaways

• Amnesty reports Indonesian military used fake videos to label activists foreign agents
• Gerindra party accounts seeded disinformation, amplified by 27 military unit accounts
• Acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus linked to prior online smear campaign
• Tech platforms' algorithms kept false foreign‑agent claims visible for months
• TikTok only platform to respond, pledging extra monitoring

Pulse Analysis

Indonesia, the world’s third‑largest democracy, is witnessing a troubling shift toward authoritarian tactics under President Prabowo Subianto. Since taking office in 2024, Prabowo has expanded the military’s footprint in civilian affairs, and his rhetoric repeatedly invokes the “foreign‑agent” label to delegitimize critics. This strategy mirrors historical playbooks where governments weaponize propaganda to justify repression, but the digital age amplifies its reach, allowing state‑aligned narratives to spread instantly across social networks.

Amnesty International’s new report, “Building Up Imaginary Enemies,” documents a systematic online campaign that began with three Gerindra‑party accounts posting a fabricated video accusing human‑rights activists of foreign ties. The content was then amplified by 31 accounts linked to 27 military units across Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube, creating a viral echo chamber. The disinformation not only tarnished reputations but also preceded physical threats, most starkly the acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus—a case now tied to the earlier smear effort. Similar tactics targeted the investigative magazine Tempo and environmental group Greenpeace, illustrating a broader pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing investigative journalism and civil‑society advocacy.

The persistence of these false narratives highlights the complicity of major tech platforms whose engagement‑driven algorithms keep sensational content alive for months. While TikTok pledged additional monitoring after Amnesty’s outreach, other platforms remained silent, underscoring a gap in content‑moderation accountability. The episode raises critical questions for policymakers and tech companies about safeguarding democratic discourse and protecting human‑rights defenders in an era where digital disinformation can be weaponized by state actors. International observers are now watching Indonesia closely, as the country’s democratic backslide could set a precedent for similar tactics across the region.