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

The 160-page report, titled Building Up Imaginary Enemies, examines developments during the first eighteen months of Prabowo’s presidency, which began in October 2024. According to Amnesty, state institutions and actors aligned with the government 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 contends that such accusations are often made without evidence and are designed to delegitimize opposition while diverting attention from substantive public concerns.

Amnesty’s findings suggest that the current administration has intensified trends that had already begun during the presidency of Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi. Rather than representing a departure from previous policies, the report argues that Prabowo’s government has accelerated efforts to marginalize critics and restrict civic space.

According to Amnesty, the repeated use of the “foreign agent” narrative serves several political purposes. It 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 engaging with the substance of the criticisms themselves while rallying nationalist sentiment among supporters.

The report states that this strategy has become increasingly visible in public discourse and online environments, where coordinated campaigns allegedly amplify accusations against individuals and groups perceived as challenging government priorities.

One of the most prominent examples highlighted in the report........

© Blitz