Nepal Crisis Reminds Indonesia of the Dangers of Hoaxes
By: Jaya Putra
Nepal’s political climate has become volatile again after massive demonstrations swept through Kathmandu and other cities in early September 2025. These demonstrations were spearheaded by young Gen Z members, angered by the government’s policy of blocking 26 popular social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X. The local government argued that the blocking was due to technology companies failing to comply with new regulations regarding mandatory registration.
However, the policy sparked public outrage. What initially were peaceful demonstrations turned into riots with looting and widespread clashes. Nepalese authorities reported dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries. The wave of protests then escalated into anti-corruption demands, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. This situation demonstrates how quickly a political crisis can be triggered by policies affecting the digital space.
In response, the Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, immediately took action to ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens in Nepal. The Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection, Judha Nugraha, confirmed that there were no reports of Indonesian citizens directly affected by the unrest.
Judha explained that there are 57 Indonesian citizens living in Nepal, 43 members of the Indonesian delegation attending an international conference in Kathmandu, two Indonesian military personnel undergoing training, and 23 Indonesian tourists. All are confirmed safe, although they are still advised to avoid crowds and follow official government information.
For Indonesia, an important lesson from Nepal is the danger of false information or hoaxes, which often fuel tensions. The Ministry of Communication and Digital has warned that half of Indonesian internet users are exposed to hoaxes.
The Secretary of the Directorate General of Digital Space Supervision, Mediodecci Lustarini, assessed that the situation has reached an alarming level. According to him, only around 20–30 percent of the public is able to distinguish true information from false, while the rest are vulnerable to manipulation.
He added that the spread of hoaxes has become even more dangerous with the advent of artificial intelligence technology. Deepfake videos and other manipulative content spread rapidly online, and many people believe them without verification.
The spread of such information moves much faster than the government or media can fact-check. Therefore, Komdigi is developing a roadmap for artificial intelligence to ensure clear ethics and regulations in its use, thus protecting the public from negative impacts.
The threat of hoaxes is not only a matter of misinformation, but can also be a gateway for external intervention. The Executive Director of the Human Studies Institute, Rasminto, believes that the pattern of massive agitation on social media often indicates a foreign role.
According to Rasminto, narratives produced and disseminated on various digital channels are often twisted to cause unrest, even though they do not align with actual conditions on the ground. He sees a grand design by external parties that do not want Indonesia to emerge as a peaceful and developed nation.
Furthermore, Rasminto emphasized that foreign intervention no longer relies on military force, but rather on information warfare. Manipulation of ideas, infiltration of sensitive issues, and obfuscation of facts are used to undermine public trust in the state. This condition is referred to as a new style of colonialism, which no longer conquers territory but seeks to control public consciousness. Therefore, he emphasized the importance of vigilance to prevent the Indonesian people from falling prey to systematic provocations.
In a situation like this, President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that national unity is key to facing all forms of threats, both internal and external. He has directed ministries, institutions, and parliament to open the widest possible space for dialogue with the people, including students. The government’s principle is that every problem can be resolved through communication and deliberation, not violence.
The President emphasized that national development can only proceed if stability is maintained. Therefore, the mass media is expected to play an active role in maintaining a conducive atmosphere by prioritizing reporting that fosters unity. At the same time, the public is also urged to be wise in responding to the flow of circulating information, so as not to be easily provoked by misleading narratives.
