Indonesian protesters targeted by coordinated disinformation
Protests in Jakarta over economic woes and corruption ended in clashes, but activists say online images exaggerated the violence and spread harmful rumours.
Recent protests in Indonesia over government corruption and free meal programs have been targeted by coordinated disinformation campaigns on social media. AFP fact-checkers have debunked numerous false posts on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, including misleading footage and claims of widespread chaos. Protest organizers say these hoaxes are intended to discourage participation by spreading fear.
Police have detained hundreds in connection with recent marches, including 65 suspected provocateurs. Researchers found that some suspects were paid or ordered to spread the disinformation. One study analyzed over 29,000 social media posts, uncovering a campaign that amplified threats of looting and downplayed protesters' demands.
Another analysis of nearly 35,000 posts on X revealed posts with patterns indicating automated distribution, with one video viewed over 1.9 million times falsely showing aerial footage of student protests. The spread of false information has the potential to delegitimize legitimate protesters and confuse the public about the true aims of the demonstrations.
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