"Cyberspace is the heart of the nation's new defense. Protecting it means safeguarding Indonesia's future," Hafid told participants of the leadership program at the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) in Jakarta on Tuesday (May 27).
She highlighted several digital threats that could endanger national sovereignty, including misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.
Misinformation refers to incorrect information shared without harmful intent, disinformation is false information deliberately spread with malicious intent, while malinformation is true information, but misleading, used to discredit or harm others.
"Hoaxes are not just disruptions to information but can undermine ideology and politics and erode social cohesion," Hafid noted.
Cyberattacks and data theft have become serious threats in the digital space.
Hafid cited the hacking incident at Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), which disrupted services for 15 million customers, as an example of a cyberattack. In this instance, the LockBit 3.0 hacker group demanded a ransom of US$20 million.
The minister cautioned that a country's strategic infrastructure, including the military and government institutions, could also become targets of cyberattacks.
Hence, she emphasized that strengthening the digital security system is essential, not optional.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has prepared regulations to maintain the security of the digital space and take action against cyber attackers.
Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Implementation in Child Protection (PP Tunas) has been issued to safeguard children accessing services in the digital space.
In addition, the government has enacted Law Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions, as well as Presidential Regulation Number 47 of 2023 on the National Cybersecurity Strategy.
Hafid invited all elements of the government to become drivers of education regarding digitalization to increase public awareness of potential threats in the digital space.
"The public needs to understand that the internet can be beneficial but also harmful. This is where consistent counseling is important," she stressed.
"Let us protect Indonesia—not only its land, sea, and air, but also its cyberspace," Hafid concluded.
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Translator: Livia Kristianti, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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