Indonesia's government accused of authoritarian turn, using disinformation against critics

Amnesty International has sounded the alarm, painting a grim picture of Indonesia's political landscape under President Prabowo Subianto. The human rights watchdog's report, "Building up Imaginary Enemies," details a disturbing trend where the government allegedly employs disinformation tactics to silence dissent. Critics are being branded as "foreign agents," a label that has, in some chilling instances, preceded violent attacks, such as the acid assault on activist Andrie Yunus. This narrative suggests a worrying "authoritarian" turn, where online falsehoods are weaponized to justify repression and shut down public discourse. The report also points a finger at major tech companies like Meta, TikTok, X, and YouTube, accusing them of passively allowing this harmful content to proliferate. From Jakarta's perspective, this report, while critical, highlights the ongoing struggle to balance national security and public order with fundamental freedoms of expression and activism. The government's alleged use of disinformation, if true, would represent a significant departure from democratic norms and raise serious questions about the future of civil liberties in Indonesia. The international community will be watching closely as these accusations unfold, while Indonesian authorities are expected to respond to these serious allegations.

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Authoritarian practices have accelerated in Indonesia under President Prabowo Subianto’s government, said an Amnesty press statement.