{
  "id": 5288586,
  "title": "Indonesia protesters targeted by coordinated disinformation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/indonesia-protesters-targeted-by-coordinated-disinformation",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T08:31:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2026/09/1524993/indonesia-protesters-targeted-coordinated-disinformation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent anti-government protests in Indonesia have triggered a coordinated disinformation campaign on social media, according to researchers. AFP fact-checkers have debunked numerous posts about student-led demonstrations across platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, including old footage of large crowds and allegations of widespread chaos. The reality on the ground during last week's rallies in Jakarta over economic concerns and corruption did not match the violence portrayed online. Hoaxes can sway whether individuals participate in protests, according to Namora Siahaan, a member of the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board. The police have detained hundreds of people in connection with the recent march on parliament, including 65 suspected provocateurs. Some suspects may have been paid by external parties to produce and distribute the content, says Iman Imanuddin, the criminal investigation director for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police. The motives behind the disinformation campaigns vary, ranging from financial gain to influencing public perception. Researcher Ismail Fahmi found a campaign that amplified threats of looting and unrest, while downplaying protesters' demands. Another analysis revealed that nearly all social media posts were from accounts displaying patterns suggesting automated posting. The campaigns aim to delegitimize legitimate protesters by creating confusion about their goals, but the primary victim is the public's ability to discern reality from falsehood.",
  "summary": "JAKARTA: Disinformation about recent anti-government protests in Indonesia has inundated social media in what researchers say is a coordinated attempt to spread propaganda about the one-year-old movement.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "‘What is real?’: Coordinated disinformation targets Indonesia protesters, distorting student‑led protest narratives",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/what-is-real-coordinated-disinformation-targets-indonesia-protesters",
        "published": "2026-09-03T09:20:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}