ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship
The lowest percentage is attributed to
perceived threats to local customs, regulations,
impersonation, psychological violence, photo
and norms.148 The Rohingya people are subjected
and video manipulation, unauthorised content
to malicious hate speech and face various forms
storage, forced abortion, and tech-enabled
of violence, including persecution, deprivation
surveillance, each at 1.02%.
of citizenship, and genocide in their homeland,
144
Myanmar. This not only exacerbates their physical
How to address cases of OGBV?
suffering but also inflicts profound psychological
OGBV in Indonesia and anywhere often involves
multiple types, making cases intricate. Relevant
solutions must be tailored to each OGBV type
experienced by victims. Hence, it is necessary
to frequently engage with various individuals
and organisations to inquire and collaborate on
OGBV cases. In handling OGBV cases, we need
to acknowledge that it cannot be a one-size-fitsall solution.145
struggle for support and the acknowledgement
of their basic human rights.149
Further, these dehumanising narratives are
purposefully crafted to sow anxiety and fear
among the local Acehnese population, cultivating
the unfounded belief that welcoming Rohingya
refugees would overwhelm and jeopardise
Acehnese resources. It is crucial to highlight
that the recorded Rohingya population in Aceh
Digital Darkness: Unmasking the
Ominous Surge of Online Hate
Campaigns Against Rohingya
Refugees in Indonesia
stands at a mere 1,700 individuals, constituting
a negligible fraction compared to the 5.4 million
Acehnese residents.150
Social Media Onslaught: Unveiling the
Shocking Hostility Towards Rohingya
What happened?
Amid Indonesia’s digital repression, a dire situation
has emerged with the plight of Rohingya refugees
seeking shelter in Aceh, including areas like Sabang,
Pidie, and Bireuen. Drawing parallels to the lead-up
to the 2017 Rohingya genocide in Rakhine State,
online disinformation and hate speech comments
targeted at Rohingya refugees in Indonesia are
now contributing to an unsafe environment.
146
This
is evident through the systemic dissemination of
content depicting Rohingya refugees in Indonesia
in a negative light, for example, portraying them
as disrespectful to their host country, or accusing
them of wasting food aid.147 Destructive narratives
persist, stigmatising Rohingya individuals as
‘illegal’ immigrants and portraying them as
102
scars, adding another layer of difficulty to their
The evidence underscores a disturbing reality: The
UN’s official Instagram account, @UNinIndonesia,
has been inundated with 17,380 comments since
November 21, 2023, specifically targeting four
posts related to Rohingya. The UN’s assessment
revealed a staggering 91 per cent of these
comments qualified as “hate comments”.151
Moreover, the UNHCR itself has also become
the target of what it has called an “orchestrated”
disinformation campaign on social media platforms
such as TikTok and Instagram, referring to the
emergence of social media accounts spreading
anti-Rohingya rhetoric, all while falsely claiming
to be UN-affiliated.152 TikTok made a statement
that accounts impersonating UNHCR Indonesia
Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia