Indonesia Needs Legal Shield Against Digital Espionage

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia needs a dedicated law to counter espionage and foreign interference as evolving threats increasingly endanger national security and sovereignty. Such a legal framework is needed to address covert operations that can now be carried out through cyberspace and other non‑conventional channels.

Intelligence and strategic affairs analyst Muhammad Arbani said technological advances have made espionage harder to detect, underscoring the need for laws that protect Indonesia’s strategic national interests from foreign espionage and interference, including digital threats.

“Legislation specifically addressing espionage and foreign intervention is actually something new. We have never had such a law. This is dangerous because espionage can now be conducted covertly,” Arbani said in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He said foreign interference can target various strategic sectors, including politics, the economy, history, and culture. In the economic sector, he noted that pressure such as embargoes can affect national economic conditions.

Arbani added that cyberspace has become a critical front in safeguarding national security. Digital technology can be used for influence operations, the spread of hoaxes, post‑truth narratives, and propaganda as part of hybrid warfare.

“Therefore, a law on espionage and foreign intervention is crucial to prevent adverse outcomes, particularly in cyberspace, where such activities can infiltrate through digital channels,” he said.

Indonesia already has regulations governing intelligence, information security, personal data protection, and cyber activities. However, Arbani said these rules address specific areas and do not form a comprehensive legal framework covering foreign espionage, foreign interference, influence operations, and cyberespionage.

A dedicated law, he argued, would establish clear legal boundaries for activities that threaten Indonesia’s strategic interests and national security. “If Indonesia had such a law, we would be stronger at the national level. Espionage activities threaten national security and are prohibited; consequently, perpetrators could face criminal penalties,” he said.

Arbani stressed that the legislation should not only prosecute individuals acting as spies. It should also define and regulate espionage and foreign interference, the illegal collection of strategic information, agent recruitment, relationships with foreign principals, influence operations, and digital espionage.

At the same time, he emphasized that stronger national security protections must not come at the expense of democratic principles and citizens’ rights. Safeguards are needed to ensure the law cannot be misused to silence criticism, restrict legitimate journalism, or interfere with lawful academic activities.

“Strengthening the legal framework must maintain a balance between national security, democracy, and citizens’ rights,” he said.

State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Muhammad Herindra also highlighted the need for stronger legal protection against espionage and foreign interference. He said evolving threats amid intensifying global geopolitical competition require a dedicated legal framework.

Speaking at a seminar titled “Sovereignty on the Front Line: National Policy on Countering Espionage and Foreign Interference,” organized by the ASEAN Study Center (ASC) at the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP UI), Herindra said espionage and foreign interference often operate in a “gray area,” making them difficult to address through conventional legal instruments.

Clear regulations, he said, are needed to strengthen protection of Indonesia’s strategic national interests. He added that any proposed law must balance national security, democracy, and civil liberties.

Beyond legislation, Herindra emphasized the need to strengthen counterintelligence capabilities and interagency coordination to detect foreign influence that could undermine national sovereignty or threaten the safety of Indonesian citizens. ***