Digital piety and soft control in Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia's digital sphere is increasingly shaped by a convergence of moral governance, algorithmic control, and populist nationalism. While formally democratic, the state now governs online life through soft authoritarian practices that are moralised and normalised. This commentary examines how digital moralism grounded in Pancasila ideology underpins laws like the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, the draft Broadcasting Bill, and recent practices of removing online content. Rather than employing explicit censorship, these laws invoke religious values, national heritage, and social solidarity in defence of digital regulation. Buzzers reinforce this moral frame by portraying dissent as a threat to public virtue. In contrast to coercive models seen in China or Russia, Indonesia's approach builds legitimacy through culturally embedded narratives of protection and decency. By unpacking Indonesia's model of digital piety, this commentary offers a Global South perspective on how democratic backsliding can unfold through values-based governance, making repression appear lawful, familiar, and even morally justified.