Academics stress importance of robust regulation to prevent cyber threats
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Professor of International Security at the Indonesian Christian University (UKI), Prof. Angel Damayanti, has assessed that Indonesia urgently needs strong regulations in the field of cyber security.
According to her, a comprehensive legal umbrella is an important foundation for strengthening national digital resilience in facing cyber attacks whilst preventing growing threats of foreign espionage amid geopolitical dynamics and rapid technological transformation.
“The most important first step is to build regulations because Indonesia does not yet have a fully independent cyber security system,” Angel said in a written statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.
She noted that Indonesia’s position as a leading producer of nickel, tin, cobalt and copper, its location on international trade routes, and its large population and digital service user base all give the country high strategic value.
On the other hand, dependence on foreign devices, systems and cyber security technologies must be anticipated, as there are risks of backdoor insertion or vulnerabilities that could be exploited for foreign espionage activities.
“Regulations must cover prevention, incident handling and oversight, as well as establish a single national command so that coordination between institutions runs effectively and overlapping authority does not occur,” she said.
According to her, beyond strengthening regulations, the government also needs to improve information governance and public digital literacy so that people are not easily influenced by algorithmic manipulation or information operations that could be exploited by certain parties to trigger social polarisation and erode public trust.
A similar view was expressed by Dr Stanislaus Riyanta, an intelligence and strategic studies analyst at the University of Indonesia. According to him, cyber threats cannot be viewed merely as a technological issue, as they are often used as a means of conducting intelligence operations against a country.
“Cyber attacks are merely a medium or tool. The main focus must be directed at the actors behind the attacks, including espionage activities and foreign intelligence operations,” Stanislaus said.
He assessed that Indonesia needs regulations governing security standards for digital devices and systems, including security assessment mechanisms to ensure there are no vulnerabilities that could be exploited for espionage activities.
A similar point was raised by Ridlwan Habib, Executive Coordinator of the Indonesia Intelligence Institute, who reminded that Indonesia has the potential to become a target of digital espionage amid intensifying global geopolitical competition.
“Amid global geopolitical dynamics and competition between major powers, Indonesia has the potential to become a target of digital espionage because of its geopolitical position, natural resources and strategic interests,” Ridlwan said.