BRIN Goes Viral for Misusing AI-Generated Garuda Emblem; Netizens: 'How Can a Research Agency Be So Careless?'
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) became the centre of public attention after its official post commemorating Pancasila’s Birthday on 1 June 2026 was found to use an AI-generated illustration of the Garuda Pancasila. Ironically, the image was deemed flawed in design and violated regulations on the use of national symbols.
Criticism began when netizens on platform X (formerly Twitter) highlighted anatomical inconsistencies in the Garuda bird depicted in the @brin_indonesia official post. The suspected generative AI image showed inconsistencies in feather count and shield shape, sacred symbols of the Indonesian nation.
According to in-depth observations by design and history enthusiasts, the Garuda symbol uploaded by BRIN contained several fatal errors inconsistent with Law No. 24 of 2009.
In response to the controversy, BRIN promptly removed the post and issued a formal apology to the public on Monday afternoon (1 June 2026). BRIN acknowledged carelessness in their digital content curation process.
“This serves as a valuable lesson for us to be more meticulous, careful, and cautious in creating and disseminating content in the future,” stated BRIN’s official release. The nation’s top research institution also pledged to tighten AI usage SOPs to avoid undermining national values.
The controversy sparked widespread discussion on the ethics of AI use in government agencies. Netizens expressed disappointment that an institution like BRIN, which should lead in data accuracy and technology, fell into using instant tools without rigorous manual validation.
“Regrettable that a research institution is careless in verifying even fundamental matters like national symbols. AI is a tool, not a replacement for human precision,” wrote a popular social media account.
The incident is hoped to serve as a wake-up call for all government agencies to use artificial intelligence more wisely, especially concerning national sovereignty symbols strictly regulated by law.
BRIN apologised for the design error of the Garuda symbol on the Pancasila Birthday poster suspected to have used AI.