Academics stress importance of robust regulation to prevent cyber threats

Professor Angel Damayanti, a lecturer in International Security at the Indonesian Christian University (UKI), has stated that Indonesia must swiftly establish robust regulations in the field of cybersecurity. She believes a comprehensive legal framework is a crucial foundation for strengthening national digital resilience against cyber attacks and preventing the growing threat 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 cybersecurity system,” Angel said in a written statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. She assessed that Indonesia’s position as a major producer of nickel, tin, cobalt, and copper, coupled with its location on international trade routes and its large population of digital service users, gives the country high strategic value. On the other hand, she noted that dependence on foreign cybersecurity devices, systems, and technology must be anticipated due to the risk of inserting backdoors or loopholes that could be exploited for foreign espionage activities. “Regulations must govern prevention, incident handling, and oversight, as well as establish a single national command so that inter-agency coordination runs effectively and there is no overlap of authority,” she said. According to Angel, in addition to strengthening regulations, the government also needs to improve information governance and public digital literacy so that society is not easily influenced by algorithmic manipulation or information operations that could be exploited by certain parties to trigger social polarisation and reduce public trust. A similar view was expressed by Dr. Stanislaus Riyanta, an Intelligence and Strategic Studies observer from the University of Indonesia. He argued that cyber threats cannot be viewed solely as a technological issue, as they are often used as a means to conduct 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,” said Stanislaus. He assessed that Indonesia requires regulations governing security standards for digital devices and systems, including a security assessment mechanism to ensure there are no loopholes that can be exploited for espionage activities. Ridlwan Habib, Executive Coordinator of the Indonesia Intelligence Institute, echoed this sentiment, warning that Indonesia has the potential to become a target of digital espionage amid increasing global geopolitical competition. “Amidst global geopolitical dynamics and competition between major powers, Indonesia has the potential to become a target of digital espionage due to its geopolitical position, natural resources, and strategic interests,” said Ridlwan.