Fighting Disinformation: Balancing Security and Press Freedom

Indonesia, one of the world’s largest democracies and social media markets, faces a disinformation crisis of unparalleled scale—with authorities struggling to develop effective countermeasures against the growing threat.

The social unrest that erupted in August 2025 remains fresh in the national memory. What began as online misinformation quickly escalated into street-level chaos, with false and misleading content spreading rapidly across digital platforms. Public confusion transformed into heightened tensions within days, culminating in looting incidents across multiple regions of the archipelago.

This episode demonstrated the tangible consequences of information disorder in the digital age. Indonesia confronts this challenge with significant disadvantages: widespread gaps in media and digital literacy create fertile ground for deceptive content to flourish, while platform algorithms amplify divisive messages to an audience often ill-equipped to separate fact from fiction.

Though the need for action is evident, experts caution that effective responses require careful consideration rather than reactive policies. Evidence from other countries suggests that enforcement-focused approaches targeting individual pieces of content fail to address the underlying causes of information disorder.

“Disinformation operates within a complex ecosystem shaped by multiple factors,” said Dr. Siti Nurhaliza, a digital media researcher at Universitas Indonesia. “Platform business incentives, algorithmic amplification systems, cross-border information flows, and declining trust in traditional institutions all contribute to the problem. Any solution must address these systemic issues.”

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence has significantly worsened the situation. These technologies have dramatically reduced both the cost and time required to produce synthetic text, audio, images, and videos that appear authentic to average users. In such an environment, content removal approaches—often described as “playing whack-a-mole”—simply cannot keep pace with the volume of problematic material being created.

Regional frameworks are increasingly recognizing the need for systemic solutions. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) established guidelines in 2018 that prioritize media literacy development, institutional capacity building, and cross-sector cooperation over strict content control measures. These guidelines reflect growing recognition that sustainable solutions must address root causes rather than symptoms.

“What we’re seeing is a shift away from content-focused interventions toward ecosystem approaches,” explained Bambang Haryanto, coordinator of Indonesia’s Digital Literacy Coalition. “This means strengthening critical thinking skills, improving platform accountability, and rebuilding trust in information institutions.”

Indonesia’s large population—approximately 280 million people—combined with its high social media penetration rate makes it particularly vulnerable to information manipulation. The country has one of the world’s highest rates of social media usage, with platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok deeply integrated into daily communication.

Market analysts note that this massive digital audience represents both tremendous economic opportunity and significant risk. Technology companies view Indonesia as a critical growth market, while political actors—both domestic and foreign—recognize the population’s susceptibility to influence operations.

“Indonesia sits at a critical juncture,” said Maria Farida, executive director of Jakarta-based think tank Digital Democracy Institute. “The decisions made now about platform regulation, digital literacy investment, and institutional capacity will shape the information environment for generations.”

Experts emphasize that effective responses must balance competing concerns: preserving free expression while mitigating harm, respecting national sovereignty while acknowledging the global nature of digital platforms, and addressing immediate threats without compromising long-term resilience.

As Indonesia navigates these complex challenges, the stakes continue to rise. With national elections approaching and regional tensions increasing, the country’s ability to foster a healthier information ecosystem will have profound implications for social cohesion, democratic governance, and economic stability in the years ahead.