Indonesian Official Claims Social Media Criticism of President Prabowo Driven by Oligarch-Controlled Bots

National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Head Sudaryono has accused a significant portion of the social media criticism directed at President Prabowo Subianto of being orchestrated by organized robot accounts. He alleged these accounts are controlled by oligarchs and corrupt individuals who do not wish for Prabowo to continue leading Indonesia. "What our President is doing is correct, and all those robots, they are all controlled by oligarchs, corruptors who do not want Mr. Prabowo to continue to lead this nation," Sudaryono stated in an Instagram post on Tuesday (22/9). Sudaryono, who is also a Central Java executive for Prabowo's Gerindra Party, assessed that current robot accounts possess the capability to create content and raise topics to the extent of becoming public discourse. "However, currently, more than 60 percent of it is not human. So, what is trending in our society is then determined by non-humans," he remarked. According to him, these robot accounts can amplify certain issues and influence other social media users, including generating criticism against Prabowo. He noted that these issues often run counter to government policies and tend to attack the current administration, asserting that these parties have interests opposed to the government. "What they want to be trending today, those who are not human, called robots, fake accounts, then dominate the topics they want to raise," Sudaryono said. "So, when Mr. Prabowo is attacked, those attacking are actually not humans, but humans who then join because it's trending," he added. Sudaryono cited an example where the government's efforts to improve the welfare of teachers in Indonesia are not becoming a major topic of discussion on social media. The official declared that the Gerindra Party will not remain silent in response to these activities, emphasizing their readiness to confront those he deems unwilling to see Indonesia become a developed nation. Source: CNN Indonesia