By: Aditya Abimanyu )*
The firm steps taken by law enforcement in investigating the buzzer network that spreads negative content is a very appropriate decision and deserves full support from the public. The spread of misleading and provocative information has been proven to not only pollute the digital public space, but also damage trust in state institutions and divide society.
The support for the Attorney General’s Office and law enforcement officers to investigate this buzzer network has been emphasized by the Indonesian National Armed Forces Headquarters (Mabes TNI). This follows the confession of the suspect in obstruction of investigation of three corruption cases, Marcella Santoso, who stated her involvement in the creation and distribution of provocative content, slander, and misleading narratives that attacked a number of state institutions, including the Attorney General’s Office, TNI institutions, and the President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto. In her confession delivered via video, Marcella openly apologized for her actions and admitted her mistake for not filtering and re-examining the negative content she spread under the direction of her team.
This case opened the public’s eyes to the existence of systematic practices in influencing opinion through social media. Not just negligence, what this network did was part of an obstruction of justice effort that disrupted the investigation and prosecution of major cases, such as the crude palm oil (CPO) export case, tin trade, and sugar imports. In fact, the Director of Investigation at the Attorney General’s Office for Special Crimes, Abdul Qohar, said that the attacks were designed to make it seem as if the Attorney General’s Office was criminalizing certain parties.
Moreover, this network did not work alone. The names of former JAKTV News Director Tian Bahtiar and the Head of the Cyber Army team, M. Adhiya Muzakki, were also mentioned as part of the force that deployed up to 150 buzzers. This was not a small operation. This was a massive, organized effort to suppress the legal process and create public doubt about law enforcement institutions.
Major General TNI Kristomei Sianturi as the Head of the TNI Information Center firmly stated that the TNI fully supports this investigation process. He emphasized that all forms of actions that disrupt public trust, damage the image of state institutions, and threaten national stability must be faced with a professional attitude and based on the law. The TNI also stated that it will continue to synergize with the Police, the Prosecutor’s Office, and other agencies so that law enforcement takes place in a transparent and accountable manner.
Kristomei’s statement is not just institutional support, but a reflection that the state must not be defeated by manipulative practices that cloak themselves in freedom of expression. Buzzers who use this freedom as a shield to spread slander and hoaxes have deviated from democratic values. Freedom of expression is not identical to the freedom to destroy other people’s reputations or hijack public opinion to protect corrupt interests.
Marcella’s regret, although important as part of the legal process, does not erase the major impact of the content that has been circulating. She herself admitted to having created a negative narrative against the President, the TNI institution, as well as the call for “Dark Indonesia” and a petition rejecting the TNI Bill. Even the personal lives of officials such as Attorney General ST Burhanuddin have been used as material for attacks, which are clearly outside the context of healthy criticism. This is a violation of public communication ethics and deserves firm action.
The existence of buzzers like this is also a serious threat to democratic life. They create polarization, sharpen differences, and ultimately weaken the nation’s social resilience. When the public is fed with false information, what happens is mass disinformation that blinds common sense and provokes tension. That is why taking action against this buzzer network is a step to save the public’s common sense.
It is important to note that this investigation is not an attempt to silence criticism. The government, including President Prabowo Subianto, is very open to constructive criticism. However, criticism must be based on data, facts, and ethics. Not just provocation full of hatred. Therefore, the separation between criticism and paid attacks must be firmly carried out.
The firm steps of the Prosecutor’s Office and the support of the TNI are also an important message for other parties who may intend to use digital space for dark interests. The state is there to protect citizens from false information, and the authorities will act if there are parties who deliberately lead public opinion to obstruct justice.
We also need to see this disclosure as a momentum to clean up the digital space from organized manipulation. The state has legal, technological, andlogic, and public support to fight paid buzzers. However, the most important thing is the resilience of the community’s digital literacy. The community must be smarter and more selective in receiving information, not easily provoked by emotions, and always prioritize logic and verification.
The case of Marcella Santoso and her buzzer network is a reminder that a healthy democracy requires healthy information. We cannot allow public space to be controlled by those who work behind the scenes to spread hatred in order to protect dark interests. The government and law enforcement have taken the right steps, and now it is the community’s turn to provide moral support and keep the digital space sane and civilized.
It is time for us to unite in the same spirit: protecting Indonesia from the threat of disinformation that can destroy public trust in the state. When the state takes firm action against the network of spreaders of lies, then that is a form of protection for a healthy democracy, national stability, and a cleaner future.
)* The author is a social media observer
