Indonesia Project Webinar Notes

Introduction

• Speaker: Ross Tapsell, Lecturer at ANU
• Guests:
  • Widji Yanto: Centre for Media and Democracy, Universitas Diponegoro
  • Ismail Fahmy: Scholar and Innovator in Big Data, Media Colonels
• Topic: Cyber troops, social media propaganda, and the future of Indonesian democracy.
• Duration: Each speaker presents for 20 minutes.
• Discussion encouraged post-presentation.

Presentation Overview

1. Research Background

   • Originated from Oxford University research (2019): cyber troops and public opinion manipulation in 70 countries.
   • Definition of computational propaganda:
     • Use of algorithms, automation, and big data to shape public life.
     • Manual saboteurs: government/political actors manipulating public opinion online.

2. Indonesian Context

   • Initial findings suggested low cyber capacity of Indonesian cyber troops, only active during elections.
   • Case Study: September 2019, KPK law revision sparked protests, leading to cyber manipulation to support the revision.
   • Involvement of nearly 3,000 academic lecturers in protests against the revision.

3. Research Collaboration

   • Joint project with KITLV, Leiden, Amsterdam, LPGAS, Universitas Timor-Leste, and Universitas Islam Indonesia.
   • Focused on five key cases:
     • 2019 Presidential Election
     • KPK law revision
     • New Normal 2020
     • Omnibus Law
     • Direct Elections of Local Heads 2020

4. Research Methodology

   • Mixed methods: computational data analysis and qualitative field research.
   • Social media analysis primarily conducted on Twitter.
   • Follow-up interviews and digital ethnography to obtain deeper insights into cyber troop operations.

5. Definition of Cyber Troops

   • Types include:
     • Robots: Automated accounts.
     • Buzzers: Anonymous accounts.
     • Influencers: Real accounts with a following.

Ismail Fahmy's Presentation

1. Big Data Analytics in Research

   • Use of Throne-Numbrate system for monitoring negative online content.
   • Development of Drone and Blade Academy to assist students, researchers, and journalists in monitoring conversations on social media.

2. Data Collection Methods

   • Utilized OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) from multiple platforms including Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
   • Data analyzed through social network analytics to track relationships and influence.

3. Findings

   • Existence of numerous cyber troops/networks operating under different banners during elections.
   • Utilization of bots and algorithms to manipulate public opinions across platforms.
   • Case study of KPK and Omnibus Law demonstrations highlighted orchestration of narratives.

4. Conclusion on Cyber Troops

   • Cyber troops played a pivotal role in shaping public narrative and opinion, influencing mainstream media coverage.
   • Digital Authoritarianism: Growing concern over the manipulation of social media for political gain.

Discussions and Questions

• Impact on Public Opinion:

  • Confirmation that buzzers and cyber troops do influence public perceptions and media narratives.
  • Example: KPK law revision saw a shift in public opinion despite ongoing protests.

• Viral Issues vs. Non-Viral:

  • Topics such as KPK and Omnibus Law received significant attention compared to others like the anti-sexual violence bill due to political stakes and funding.

• Role of Mainstream Media:

  • Media's duty to verify information and avoid amplifying misinformation from social media.

• Professionalism of Cyber Troops:

  • Increasing sophistication of cyber troop operations noted, potentially affecting upcoming elections in 2024.

• Gender Dynamics:

  • Discussion on the gendered nature of narratives propagated by predominantly male cyber troops.

Conclusion

• Cyber troops and digital manipulation continue to play a significant role in shaping the future of Indonesian democracy.
• The ongoing research indicates a trend toward increased sophistication and organization in digital propaganda efforts as elections approach.