Ferry Irwandi Testifies as Mitigating Witness in Text Overlay Case Linked to Protest
Social media activist Ferry Irwandi has testified as a witness in the case concerning the editing of a screenshot, known as ‘timpa teks’ (text overlay), related to the demonstrations that ended in rioting in August 2025. Ferry admitted that he joined the August 2025 demonstrations out of personal desire, not because he was influenced by a post from the defendant, Khariq Anhar. This was conveyed by Ferry Irwandi when he was presented as a mitigating witness for defendant Khariq Anhar at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday (6/7/2026). Khariq is the defendant in the case of editing a screenshot of a statement by the President of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI), Said Iqbal, regarding the demonstration that ended in rioting in August 2025.
Ferry stated that he had found many posts in the form of memes, posters, or other visual media as a form of expression. He admitted to having participated in demonstrations on 25, 28, 29 August 2025 and 1 September 2025. Ferry admitted he knew about Khariq’s screenshot post from an upload by the ‘Aliansi Mahasiswa Menggugat’ (Student Alliance Sues). He insisted his participation in the demonstration on 28 August 2025 was personal and not because he was influenced by Khariq’s post. Ferry felt he was not harmed by Khariq’s post, viewing it as part of internet culture that has existed for a long time and is intended to criticise certain parties.
Ferry stated that text overlay posts are commonplace on social media. He assessed that text overlay posts are intended to let readers know that the content is not the original, so it is not part of slander or a hoax. Ferry said the text overlay done by Khariq was not a hacking activity or illegal. He mentioned that he got to know Khariq during the August 2025 demonstrations when Khariq was arrested and sent a letter using tissue paper handed over to him by another student.
In this case, Khariq is accused of editing Said Iqbal’s statement using the Canva application. Prosecutors argued that Iqbal’s call, which originally had a positive meaning, was changed by Khariq to have a negative meaning. The prosecutor stated that Khariq deliberately took a screenshot of Said Iqbal’s statement and edited it using the Canva application by covering the initial words with black and retyping them so that the information was not in accordance with the truth. The prosecutor argued that Khariq’s actions made Said Iqbal’s statement appear provocative and caused a negative effect in terms of security. Khariq was previously acquitted in a separate incitement case related to the August 2025 demonstrations.