Digital Threats Now A Top Concern For Indonesia’s National Security

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, June 1 (Bernama) -- Cyberspace is now a critical domain for Indonesia’s national defence, and stronger collaboration is needed to safeguard the country’s digital sovereignty, said Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid.

She said threats to national sovereignty increasingly originate in the digital domain, not just from land, sea, or air, amid a rise in cyberattacks and the spread of online disinformation.

“Cyberspace is the heart of our modern defence. Safeguarding it means securing the nation’s future,” she said during a recent public lecture at the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), according to a statement from her ministry.

Among recent high-profile incidents, Meutya cited a ransomware attack on Bank Syariah Indonesia in June 2024 by the LockBit 3.0 group, which demanded US$20 million and disrupted services for 15 million customers.

She also warned of the dangers posed by online falsehoods—including misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation—which she said could undermine national unity, inflame political tensions, and erode public trust.

“These aren’t just digital disturbances; they can threaten the ideological and social fabric of our society,” she said, adding that investment in digital security infrastructure is an urgent necessity.

To tackle these challenges, the ministry has introduced key regulations, including Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on Electronic Systems Governance for Child Protection, Law No. 1 of 2024 revising the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, and Presidential Regulation No. 47 of 2023 on the National Cybersecurity Strategy.

Noting that regulations alone are insufficient, Meutya urged leaders across the civil service, military, and police to spearhead digital literacy efforts throughout government institutions.

Indonesia has reported a sharp increase in cyber threats in recent years, in line with rapid digital transformation.

-- BERNAMA