Digital harassment of women journalists in Indonesia ^{CEFR B1}

Digital violence against female journalists and activists in Indonesia has grown more visible in the past five years. Attacks range from coordinated abuse by political "buzzers" to targeted campaigns by fandoms, and they often mix professional criticism with misogynistic personal attacks.

Several named cases show the variety of abuses. Bunga (a pseudonym) was doxed and had photos edited after a presentation about portrayals of women in Japanese comics went viral; she said the attacks left her fearful in public. Other victims include Kania, harassed by buzzers linked to former President Joko Widodo; Pipit, attacked after criticising the national health insurance agency; and Nala, targeted by anti-vaccine groups. Magdalene, a women’s rights publication, suffered a massive DDoS attack in May 2020.

Survivors report limited institutional protection. Editors sometimes tell staff to stay off social media while abuse spreads. Organisations coordinate with groups like AJI and LBH Pers, but many responses are reactive. Legal frameworks have expanded but remain fragmented: Komnas Perempuan’s 2024 report recorded 330,097 gender-based violence cases, up 14 percent. The 2022 TPKS law recognises Electronic-Based Sexual Violence (KBSE) and the right to erase online traces, but implementation has stalled. Platforms often avoid responsibility, and advocates continue to press for faster, culturally aware moderation and better legal implementation.