Man Arrested in Indonesia for AI-Manipulated Presidential Video

The West Java Regional Police's Cyber Investigation Directorate (Ditresiber) has arrested a private employee, identified by the initials FG, for allegedly manipulating a video of President Prabowo Subianto using artificial intelligence (AI) technology and spreading it through social media. The suspect faces a maximum prison sentence of 12 years. According to Head of Public Relations of the West Java Police, Kombes Pol. Hendra Rochmawan, the case began with a public report received on August 3, 2026. The reporter, with initials FSS, reported a video on the TikTok account @talentastudio.id and Instagram @talentastudio.id that allegedly featured President Prabowo Subianto's video manipulated using AI. Hendra stated that the video showed a modified image of President Prabowo accompanied by negative narratives, such as "if he becomes President, the country will be chaotic." Following up on the report, investigators from the West Java Police's Ditreskrim identified and arrested the alleged perpetrator, FG, in Surabaya, East Java. During the arrest, evidence including an iPhone 15 Pro Max, TikTok and Instagram accounts, a Gmail account, and a CPU unit suspected of being used in the content creation and distribution process were secured. Kasubdit I Ditressiber Polda Jawa Barat AKBP Ambarita said that based on initial examinations, the suspect admitted to creating and uploading the video to increase the number of viewers and followers on his social media accounts. "In the perpetrator's words, it was to make the account 'crowded,' meaning to get it on the FYP (For You Page), so there was no particular interest from FG's statement," Ambarita said. Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Cyber West Java Police AKBP Mujianto explained that the suspect's actions are allegedly related to the crime of identity theft through the manipulation of digital data. He elaborated that the suspect used AI technology to manipulate President Prabowo Subianto's image into a video, which was then uploaded to the TikTok account @TalentaStudio.ID and Instagram @TalentaStudio.ID. For his actions, FG is charged under Article 45A paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 28 paragraph (2), and/or Article 32 in conjunction with Article 48, and/or Article 35 in conjunction with Article 51 of Law Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE Law), as well as Article 263 paragraph (1) and Article 242 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP). Mujianto concluded that the suspect faces a maximum penalty of 12 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to Rp. 12 billion.