10/14/25, 10:42 AM The power of online protest - University of Amsterdam Spyware The risks of online protest are also increasing. In countries like Thailand and Indonesia, cyber laws are used to prosecute activists for insulting the government, with prison sentences as a result. ‘Through spyware, invisible software programmes on your phone or computer, governments in Asia monitor your online activities. This form of online repression is much harder to track than police action in the streets,’ Sastramidjaja explains. Due to this digital repression, Sastramidjaja believes the future of online activism lies beyond the major social media platforms. ‘Activists are increasingly working on alternative platforms so that they can still make their voices heard. Out of sight of strict governments.’ (/en/profile/s/a/y.sastramidjaja/y.m.sastramidjaja.html) Dr. Y.M. (Yatun) Sastramidjaja Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences Programme group: Moving Matters: People, Goods, Power and Ideas y.sastramidjaja@uva.nl (mailto:y.sastramidjaja@uva.nl) Related content Protest, polarisation and political violence: where do we draw the line? Why does political violence occur in a democracy? Professor Ursula Daxecker explains how protest and division can lead to threats and tension within society. 5/5