Jakarta, February 17, 2023 – The state of civil liberties and the quality of democracy in Indonesia have deteriorated over the past decade. This is confirmed by the 2022 Democracy Index report published by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), in which Indonesia is once again classified as a “flawed democracy.” Civil liberties in the digital sphere are also increasingly restricted, as confirmed by the 2022 Freedom on the Net report.
Although repression against activism in the digital sphere has been on the rise, civil society activism in the public sphere has also increased, particularly during the 2019–2021 pandemic. These findings were presented by Muhammad Fajar, a researcher at the Institutes for Advanced Research (IFAR) at Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, during the webinar “Expanding Digital Activism Amid a Shrinking Civic Space” hosted by the Tifa Foundation on Thursday, February 16, 2023.
“Based on 3,873 instances of digital activism campaigns carried out by social movement organizations on social media between 2016 and 2021, our research shows that the period from 2019 to 2021 marked the peak of digital activism. Restrictions on social mobility, coupled with numerous public policies that do not prioritize the people and widen the gap of inequality among citizens, have driven them to utilize digital public spaces to carry out collective action,” said Fajar, one of four researchers on “The Role of Digital Activism by Youth Groups and Civil Society Organizations in Social Movements in Indonesia (2016–2021).”
Generally speaking, issues related to human rights, gender equality, and the environment dominate digital activism by social movement organizations, with the public and the government as the primary targets. In terms of format, sharing tips and information and online protests are the most common forms of digital activism. The pandemic has also led to a dramatic increase in digital activism in the form of webinars designed to explore current socio-political issues.
Yoes C. Kenawas, a doctoral candidate in political science at Northwestern University in Illinois, explained, “Only a few civil society organizations engage in more aggressive and risky forms of digital activism. This choice is inseparable from the current landscape of risks in digital activism in Indonesia, such as the legal risk of being charged under the ITE Law or the Criminal Code, the risk of digital attacks, or the use of paid online influencers and cyber armies, which can delegitimize movements and organizations.”
Amid criticism of digital activism as “clicktivism” and “slacktivism,” it is important to understand the effectiveness of digital activism in supporting the achievement of a movement’s goals and its tangible impact. Addressing this need, Aulia Dwi Nastiti—who is also a Ph.D. candidate in political science at the same university as Yoes—examines the effectiveness of digital activism by civil society in Indonesia through case studies of three digital campaigns on social media: #SahkanRUUPKS, #BaliTolakReklamasi, and #PapuanLivesMatter. #SahkanRUUPKS had the highest level of effectiveness, #BaliTolakReklamasi had a moderate level of effectiveness, while the #PapuanLivesMatter campaign had the lowest effectiveness in achieving the movement’s goals and providing benefits to organizations of digital activists.
According to Aulia, momentum and virality on social media are important for digital activism. However, to be effective, digital activism needs to be supported by other factors, including collaboration among activist organizations, direct access to policymakers, and the intensity of campaigns. Additionally, the diversity of figures involved in activism can provide greater legitimacy.
Furthermore, Luthfi Adam, a researcher at Monash University Indonesia, added that the impact of digital activism can be measured by public participation and apathy, as well as concessions or repression from the government. Public participation in the #PapuanLivesMatter movement increased significantly, while in the cases of #SahkanRUUPKS and #BaliTolakReklamasi, it increased gradually. Additionally, the #BaliTolakReklamasi and #PapuanLivesMatter movements have also garnered support from outside Bali and Papua.
The #SahkanRUUPKS and #BaliTolakReklamasi movements have both seen an increase in positive responses from the government, while government repression against the #PapuanLivesMatter movement has escalated dramatically. “Activists in all three movements have faced digital repression, such as hacking and counter-campaigns by online influencers. However, #PapuanLivesMatter activists face extreme repression in the form of internet throttling and shutdowns,” explained Luthfi.
Although digital activism has increased in volume, the majority of it is carried out by organizations based in Western Indonesia. This finding highlights the unresolved issue of disparities in access to internet infrastructure, as well as economic, social, and political opportunities, between Western, Central, and Eastern Indonesia. In addition to bridging the digital divide, strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations in Central and Eastern Indonesia—both in terms of institutionalizing digital activism and digital security—is urgently needed to expand the reach and impact of digital activism in Indonesia.
“The current landscape of digital activism has made civil society organizations better equipped to implement counter-repression and counter-narrative strategies in response to attacks or negative repercussions arising from their activism. Digital security measures and the capacity to manage campaigns and build alliances need to be institutionalized so they are not lost when organizational members change,” Yoes noted.
In response to the research findings and recommendations, the Tifa Foundation will organize a series of discussions with digital activists, as well as training sessions. Through these activities, digital activists are expected to be able to chart a strategic course for digital activism in Indonesia in response to the dynamics shaping the current landscape of digital activism.
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About the Tifa Foundation
The Tifa Foundation is an organization that promotes the realization of an open society through collaboration on strategic issues with various civil society organizations in Indonesia, both at the national and local levels. Since its establishment, Tifa has consistently worked to strengthen the role of civil society in protecting the rights of minority and marginalized groups, expanding the right to freedom of expression and opinion, advocating for a free press, improving governance, and ensuring transparency and accountability in the formulation and implementation of public policy, as well as a number of other programs aligned with efforts to realize an open society in Indonesia.
For more information about the Data Policy and Governance Program, please contact:
Debora Irene
Project Manager for Data Policy and Governance
[email protected]