TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chairperson of the Indonesia Cyber Security Forum (ICSF), Ardi Sutedja, has exposed the rampant practice of paid hackers, involving professional cyber syndicates operating strictly on commission. According to him, this phenomenon is not only a global menace but has penetrated the local political and governmental spheres.
Ardi noted that numerous "hacker-for-hire" groups are operating like digital mercenaries. These entities offer various illicit services, ranging from system breaches to targeted cyber influence operations.
"They are also being used and paid by groups and individuals within the government. Some of these groups were deployed in the recent elections," he spilled.
He explained that the growth of this commercial hacking industry is a direct evolution of the data misuse patterns that first gripped global attention during the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal. That case exposed how the personal data of millions of social media users was harvested without consent to build psychographic profiles and manipulate voters with tailored political messaging.
"What's more surprising is how the impact of this scandal didn't stop at raising awareness of the importance of data privacy. Post-Cambridge Analytica, the digital landscape has become even darker," Ardi told Tempo on Monday, June 15, 2026.
According to Ardi, the manipulative practices once driven by raw data exploitation have now evolved into far more complex threats. Paid hacker groups blend cyber surveillance technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and psychological operations to sway public opinion, silence criticism, and sabotage democratic processes.
He warns that this threat has grown increasingly potent because it is backed by technology capable of harvesting deep personal intelligence without the victim's knowledge. In addition to device hacking, these groups also offer specialized services such as spreading disinformation, mounting online harassment, and fabricating fake public support for vested interests.
Ardi added that the proliferation of these paid hacker networks risks severely eroding public trust in democratic institutions. "This threat also directly infringes on civil rights, particularly through the oppression and intimidation of voters," he said. Disinformation campaigns aimed at specific demographics can polarize communities, making it exceedingly difficult for citizens to separate genuine facts from engineered narratives.
Furthermore, journalists, activists, and public figures are reportedly bearing the brunt of these digital intimidation tactics. Such coordinated strikes are executed through the dissemination of fabricated information, threats, and synchronized smear campaigns designed to silence critical voices.
"One of the biggest dangers posed by these paid hackers is their effort to delegitimize election integrity," Ardi emphasized. "In recent years, we have witnessed how these groups used leaked or stolen documents, such as emails or other sensitive data, to manipulate public opinion ahead of elections."
On a separate note, Ardi also highlighted that the threat of ransomware remains critically high in Indonesia. "In January alone, we recorded 50 ransomware cases, and only 30 percent of those affected have successfully recovered their data," he stated.
To counter these evolving digital threats, Ardi stressed the urgent need to elevate digital literacy, strengthen personal data protection, and foster cross-border cooperation to track and disrupt paid hacking activities. He maintains that the government, the private sector, and civil society must work together to safeguard the digital ecosystem and preserve the integrity of the nation's democracy.
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