Rights group alleges state-linked disinformation and online smears are used to justify repression and attacks on critics.
Indonesia’s government under President Prabowo Subianto is increasingly using disinformation and “foreign agent” smears to discredit critics and shrink civic space, Amnesty International warns in a new report.
Amnesty Alleges ‘Authoritarian’ Turn
In a report titled Building Up Imaginary Enemies released on May 19, Amnesty International said “authoritarian practices have accelerated in Indonesia under President Prabowo Subianto’s government.” The group argues that in the 18 months since Prabowo took power, online disinformation has become a key tactic to discredit government critics, close down public debate and legitimise repressive measures. The core pattern described is branding opponents as “foreign agents” supposedly paid or controlled by outside interests.
From Online Smears To Physical Attacks
One of the most striking cases is that of 27-year-old rights activist Andrie Yunus, a prominent critic of what many see as the military’s expanding role in government. In March, shortly after he recorded a podcast on that topic, he was attacked with acid and left blind in one eye. Amnesty says its investigations show that online slurs and “foreign agent” labels have in some cases preceded violent incidents like this, creating a climate in which harassment and attacks appear more acceptable or easier to justify.
State Actors And Party Figures Implicated
Regional researcher Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong told AFP that Amnesty’s work identified state actors involved in spreading false “foreign agent” allegations, including members of Prabowo’s Gerindra party and at least one member of the presidential staff. The report also cites the role of the security forces, saying Indonesian authorities – “including the military” – deploy online disinformation against journalists, activists, academics and protesters in retaliation for legitimate criticism. Under international human rights law, Chanatip said, governments are obliged not only to refrain from spreading disinformation, but to prevent and address such campaigns by state actors.
Tech Platforms Accused Of Letting Harmful Content Stay Up
Amnesty also faults major social media platforms, alleging that Meta, TikTok, X and YouTube “have allowed harmful disinformation to remain online.” In responses included in the report, TikTok said it is working with “global safety partners” on content moderation, while Meta pointed to updates in its human rights reporting. Both Meta and TikTok pay AFP to fact‑check potentially false posts, but Amnesty argues that the companies’ current actions are not sufficient to curb coordinated smear campaigns targeting Indonesian government critics.
Government Yet To Respond To Detailed Allegations
AFP has requested comment from the Indonesian government and the tech firms named, but they said they needed time to review the report. Amnesty’s central charge is that Jakarta has failed to protect people targeted by state-linked disinformation and has, in some cases, fuelled the problem through senior officials’ rhetoric. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the report raises concerns about the health of Indonesia’s democracy and the broader regional trend of using social media narratives to undermine civil society, raising questions about how both governments and platforms will respond as online smear tactics grow more sophisticated.
Amnesty International’s warning that Prabowo Subianto’s government is using “foreign agent” disinformation to stigmatise and endanger critics points to a tightening environment for free expression in Indonesia. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the findings highlight how quickly online narratives can translate into offline risks – from loss of reputation to brutal attacks – and why both state institutions and tech companies are being pressed to curb weaponised disinformation rather than ignore or amplify it.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Arab News (2026)
Keywords: Building Up Imaginary Enemies Report, Foreign Agent Smears, Andrie Yunus Acid Attack, Gerindra Party Members, Tech Platform Responsibility, Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong
