JAKARTA: Coordinating Politics and Security Minister Djamari Chaniago has given reassurance that the domestic security situation remains stable and under control ahead of the country’s 81st Independence Day celebration, urging the public not to be influenced by “disinformation” about possible unrest in August.
The remark was made during a joint press conference with Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto, National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Muhammad Herindra and Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin on Wednesday (Aug 5).
“The domestic situation remains secure and fully under control […] We are not being complacent. We continue to monitor all developments [to ensure safety],” Djamari said. He acknowledged that global uncertainty continues to affect countries around the world, including Indonesia, but said the government is working to minimise its impact on the public and ensure government programmes can continue without disruption.
The remark came amid a rise in social media posts containing unverified claims that large-scale street protests would take place in August on specific dates, fueling concerns that violent unrest similar to the riots driven by economic grievances seen across the country last year could return.
Old videos of the August 2025 demonstrations have also resurfaced across social media platforms in recent weeks, being presented as current events alongside unverified claims that the country’s mainstream media organisations have deliberately ignored the protests.
Photos and videos of newly-built fences barricading shopping centres, including Kota Kasablanka in South Jakarta and Pakuwon in Bekasi on the outskirts of the capital, have also been making rounds on social media in recent weeks, prompting speculation that businesses were preparing for possible unrest. The fences were removed over the weekend.
Firm actions
Djamari said the government has been monitoring the spread of hoaxes and disinformation on social media, including posts and videos falsely depicting violent protests in several parts of the country, warning that netizens who spread such false information could face criminal prosecution.
"We will identify the accounts involved. If there are indications that their actions constitute a criminal offense, we will take firm legal action," he said, adding that the police would enforce the law “without compromise”.
He also stressed that videos being circulated online did not depict the current situation, noting that daily life across the country continues as normal, with business activities, public services, shopping centres and traditional markets operating without any disruption. The minister said the government hopes to preserve a calm atmosphere ahead of the Independence Day on Aug. 17, urging the public to celebrate in peace without being distracted by unverified information.
Security preparations are also being stepped up ahead of the celebration, with police chief Listyo assuring that the police are working with related ministries and agencies as well as regional administrations to maintain security and stability.
“We are continuously coordinating to ensure that all events leading up to the Aug. 17 celebrations, including a series of programmes already organised by the government, can run safely and smoothly,” Listyo said.
Coordinated campaign
A recent analysis by Monash University Indonesia found that the spread of recycled posts about past demonstrations presented as current events was highly coordinated and unlikely to have been carried out organically.
The study, which analysed nearly 197,000 social media posts between July 26 and Aug. 1 containing keywords, including “demonstration”, “action”, “students”, “video” and “coverage”, found unusual reposting patterns. Of the 34,935 posts analysed, 99.46 percent were reposts.
Some accounts appeared to repost content at speeds that the study said would be difficult for humans to achieve manually, suggesting the possible use of automated tools, scripts or bulk reposting systems designed to increase engagement. The study also identified a seed-and-amplify pattern, where a small number of accounts introduced a narrative before it was widely shared by thousands of other accounts.
Monash researcher Ika Idris warned that the spread of misleading online posts about street protests risks blurring the line between authentic information and manipulated content, potentially delegitimising genuine protest movements while reinforcing claims that the demonstrations were being orchestrated.
"In this situation, the biggest casualty is not any particular political group, but the public's ability to distinguish what is real from what is not," she added. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
