Indonesia's Strategic Position Targeted by Foreign Espionage, Urgent Need for Cybersecurity Awareness

Indonesia’s strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region is seen as making the country a target for various foreign interests, including modern espionage that now develops through digital space and cyber activities. Senior lecturer in International Relations at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FISIP) UI, Edy Prasetyono, says espionage practices are a real threat that has long existed in interstate relations. He notes that not all espionage cases are disclosed publicly, especially if they concern sensitive issues or allied countries. ‘In practice, not all espionage cases are disclosed or recorded. If the issue is sensitive or related to a friendly country, sometimes it is not disclosed,’ Edy said in a statement on Wednesday (20/5). Edy says nearly all countries have national security instruments to protect strategic information from the threat of data theft and foreign intelligence operations. Therefore, Indonesia is seen as needing to strengthen regulations and systems for protecting strategic information to face cross-border threats. Executive Director of the ASEAN Study Center, FISIP UI, says espionage practices can be carried out by partner states or parties with opposing interests. The impact is serious because it can weaken the country’s defence capabilities and disrupt national strategic infrastructure. ‘The target country always suffers. Espionage threatens the country,’ he said. Meanwhile, Head of the Postgraduate Programme, Department of International Relations, FISIP UI, Ali Abdullah Wibisono, said foreign espionage practices continue to develop following changes in technology. He cites the indictment of Harry Lu Jianwang in the United States in May 2026 and the disclosure by Poland’s Internal Security Agency concerning recruitment of civilians as “ disposable assets” for foreign interests. Ali warns that modern espionage threats now largely occur through cyberspace. In 2025, around 39 million advanced persistent threat (APT) incidents targeted Indonesia’s digital networks. He says society needs to raise awareness of personal data protection and digital security because modern espionage often leverages digital platforms used in everyday life. The rapid digital transformation in the banking sector is driving the strengthening of cybersecurity to be an urgent need amid the increasing complexity of digital threats. The OJK records 515,000 reports of digital fraud. VIDA presents layered security solutions and an educational campaign to protect the public’s digital identities. Cybersecurity expert Dr. Ir. Charles Halim reveals five main pillars of cyber resilience for businesses in Indonesia to proactively face digital threats. Mozilla released Firefox 150 with fixes for 271 security vulnerabilities found by AI Anthropic Mythos. See the impact of AI on the future of cybersecurity. Cyberattacks in Asia-Pacific have surged sharply. Akamai notes 65 billion API attacks in 2025. See mitigation strategies from PT Nusa Network Prakarsa. Indonesia and Singapore strengthen strategic cooperation in energy, food, and industry ahead of 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2027. Eight hantavirus variants have been reported from various countries. This hantavirus type should attract public attention. The heating Iran-Israel conflict is seen as a threat to the global economy and world energy prices. ASEAN is urged to strengthen diplomatic channels and maintain regional stability. Unpas Political Talks highlights the limited knowledge of Indonesians about Africa, seen as hampering economic cooperation between the two regions. BMKG released the weather forecast for 8–14 May 2026, noting potential rainfall in several parts of Indonesia is diminishing as the Australian Monsoon strengthens.