MUI Calls on Muslims to Win the 'Algorithm War' by Preparing Digital Mujahideen

The Information, Communication, and Digital Commission (Infokomdigi) of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has called on Muslims to win the ‘algorithm war’ in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) by preparing digital mujahideen capable of mastering technology while disseminating Islamic values in the digital space. Commission Chairman Hari Usmayadi stated that the challenge of Islamic outreach is no longer limited to conventional religious lectures. He argued that outreach must now capture public attention on social media by understanding how algorithms work and utilising artificial intelligence. ‘We are currently facing the phenomenon of an algorithm war,’ said Cak Usma during a workshop titled ‘Amplification of Digital Islamic Literacy in the AI Era’ at the Buya Hamka Hall, MUI Central Office, Jakarta. He cautioned that soothing, knowledge-based Islamic content risks being buried by a flood of instant content that can damage civilisation. He explained that the digital space is now filled with various problems, from the promotion of illegal online loans and LGBT propaganda to the emergence of popular figures offering religious views without adequate scholarly foundation. Cak Usma noted that the development of AI presents challenges such as rampant content manipulation through deepfakes, the spread of misinformation, and the circulation of religious content without verification. However, behind these challenges, AI also opens significant opportunities for Muslims to expand the reach of Islamic outreach and improve religious literacy. For this reason, MUI, in its role as a servant of the community and a partner to society and the government, is encouraging the emergence of a generation of digital mujahideen who are not only users of technology but also capable of mastering the production and distribution of narratives in the digital space.