B. Key Digital Rights Situations 2025 The expansion of the role of the military and police into civilian posts, along with the passage of the Criminal Procedure Code, has raised concerns about heightened risks of abuse of power. Following the passage of the revised TNI Law on March 20, 2025, the military reportedly planned to conduct information and disinformation operations to counter perceived “threats to national sovereignty” in cyberspace135. These operations allegedly targeted groups considered to be undermining public trust in defense institutions and the government136. Monitoring of online activities, or “cyber patrols,” is one method Indonesian authorities use to track content on social media platforms. However, this approach is controversial because authorities act as the sole arbiters of online content, and the criteria used to determine which narratives constitute threats to national security remain unclear. In September 2025, the TNI targeted Ferry Irwendi, a content creator known for discussing controversial issues on his channel, including public policy. The military alleged that Irwendi committed criminal acts of defamation, hate speech, provocation, misinformation, and incitement that harmed national security. The TNI cited two examples of Irwendi’s content as misleading, and capable of causing public unrest and potentially disrupting national security: his analysis of a viral video involving TNI personnel, and his comments on the August 2025 riot that also involved the military 137. The allegations against Irwendi resulted from the TNI’s cyber patrols138. At the time, his YouTube channel had around 1.92 million followers139. Civil society condemned the military, arguing that it is not the TNI’s duty to act as a law enforcement agency140, 141. Yaputra, Hendrik. “Defense Ministry: Cyber Operations to Counter Threats to National Sovereignty.” Tempo.co, 26 Mar. 2025, en.tempo.co/read/1990896/defense-ministry-cyber-operations-tocounter-threats-to-national-sovereignty. 136. Ibid. 137. Fajri, Daniel Ahmad. “TNI Claims Ferry Irwandi’s Content Misleading and Disrupts Stability.” Tempo.co, 12 Sep. 2025, en.tempo.co/read/2048299/tni-claims-ferry-irwandis-content-misleading-and-disruptsstability. 138. Azzahra, Nabiila. “TNI Cyber Unit Suspects Influencer Ferry Irwandi of Criminal Act.” Tempo.co, 8 Sep. 2025, en.tempo.co/read/2047180/tni-cyber-unit-suspects-influencer-ferry-irwandi-of-criminal-act. 139. Ibid. 140. Aswara, Dani. “Rights Watchdog Urged Prabowo to Halt TNI Cyber Unit’s Social Media Patrols.” Tempo. co, 9 Sep. 2025, en.tempo.co/read/2047328/rights-watchdog-urges-prabowo-to-halt-tni-cyber-unitssocial-media-patrols. 141. Aswara, Dani. “Setara Institute: Indonesian Military Cyber Patrols Risk Digital Repression.” Tempo.co, 9 Sep. 2025, en.tempo.co/read/2047479/setara-institute-indonesian-military-cyber-patrols-risk-digitalrepression. 135. 36