Amnesty Uncovers the Label 'Foreign Lackeys' as a Tool to Delegitimise Critics in Indonesia

Amnesty International has uncovered a coordinated disinformation campaign that labels government critics as ‘foreign lackeys’ under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. The campaign is seen not only to silence dissent but also to provoke intimidation and violence against journalists, activists, academics, and protesters. The findings are set out in a report titled ‘Building up Imaginary Enemies’ launched on Tuesday (19 May). Secretary General Agnès Callamard said authoritarian practices in Indonesia have risen since Prabowo took office. ‘Our research shows that in the 18 months since Prabowo took office, online misinformation has emerged as a key tactic to systematically discredit government critics, close public debate, and justify repression,’ she said. She noted that misinformation is used as a political weapon to consolidate power when public criticism grows. ‘By labeling protesters, journalists, and human rights defenders as ’foreign lackeys’, Indonesian authorities and their supporters are intentionally diverting attention and ignoring the legitimate grievances of the people,’ she said.

Amnesty notes that since Prabowo assumed office in October 2024 there have been waves of demonstrations over corruption, budget cuts, environmental damage, and expanded military authority. Critics, according to the report, are often met with allegations that they are paid or controlled by foreign interests. Meanwhile, Amnesty East Asia/Pacific Researcher for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, said their research found that the campaign to spread the accusation of ‘foreign lackeys’ was conducted in a coordinated fashion by hundreds of social media accounts. ‘They upload videos, graphics, or messages that are identical within a short period of time. This disinformation is then amplified across platforms,’ she said. According to Amnesty, the narratives were spread via Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. The pattern of identical posts posted in unison is seen as evidence of deliberate attempts to mislead the public.

The report also highlights the weak legal protections for victims of disinformation in Indonesia. Amnesty argues that several regulations could be used to criminalise government critics. ‘Rather than upholding the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, Indonesian authorities have failed at every level,’ said Chanatip. Amnesty also notes the responsibility of social media companies such as Meta, TikTok, X, and YouTube, which are said to have failed to stop the spread of disinformation on their platforms. ‘The failure of these tech giants has contributed to human rights violations documented in the report, where falsehoods spread much faster than facts,’ she explained. Amnesty indicates that many of the posts documented remained available for months, even more than a year, and many became viral. Of all platforms contacted by Amnesty, only TikTok provided a response to the findings. ‘Although the climate for human rights work is becoming more hostile, many activists we interviewed remain resilient. They continue to adapt, support one another, and resist,’ Chanatip said. The 160-page report shows how public criticism can continue to be dismissed through the label of ‘foreign lackeys’. It also illustrates the impact on the credibility of media and journalists who have long relied on public trust.