Talking Indonesia Podcast: Digital Attacks on Activists and the Media

Photo by Wahyu Putro A for Antara/via Indonesia at Melboune

Recent years in Indonesia have seen repeated instances of the hacking of activists’ social media accounts, the defacing of media websites, as well as political influencers and automated bots attacking critics and promoting a pro-government line. On top of these digital attacks, the Indonesian government also twice throttled or shut down the internet in 2019, first in Jakarta and then in Papua.

Digital attacks on activists and the media raise a host of questions: who is responsible for these attacks, what effect do they have on Indonesian democracy, and what reforms are needed to better protect Indonesian internet users?

In this week’s Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr. Dave McRae discusses these issues with Damar Juniarto, executive director of the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet).

Click here to listen.