KBRN, Jakarta: Head of Defense Information Bureau of Secretariat General of Indonesian Defense Ministry, Brigadier General TNI Frega Wenas said that the cyber defense carried out by the the Indonesian Armed Forces is not to spy on civilians. Frega asked the public not to worry about the Armed Forces new duties. The Ministry of Defense ensures that the Military duties have much broader scoops than that because according to the mandate of the constitution, the focus is on upholding the sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety of the nation.

" Cyber has become an important domain in military operations. Within the United States Armed Forces, Cyber has been a separate corps since 2014. In fact, the multidomain operations and multidomain battle doctrines developed since 2017 have integrated cyber along with space with land, maritime and air, and are adopted by many countries including NATO countries. One of the countries in the region, such as Singapore, has also formed a Cyber Force called the Digital and Intelligence Service, " Frega reaffirmed in a Press Statement received by RRI VOI Thursday (27/3/2025).

Moreover, Brigadier General Frega also emphasized that the development and dynamics of these threats make it urgent for the Military to play a role in tackling cyber threats because they intersect with state sovereignty. Therefore, according to Frega, it becomes an urgency to include cyber defense as part of one of the ways to carry out the duties of Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP).

In his Press Statement, Frega clarified that the Armed Forces involvement in cyber defense is to deal with threats related to upholding state sovereignty and national safety. He said the public does not need to worry about the passing of the revision of Law Number 34/2004 concerning the Military which includes cyber defense tasks as tasks in Military Operations Other Than War, because it is to strengthen Military professionalism so that it is able to carry out its duties properly in line with national interests and security.

Furthermore, Frega has also explained that if there are groups that voice the narrative in which military operations in cyberspace will break democracy because of restricting freedom of speech, it is not true. He conveyed as a democratic country, freedom of speech, including criticism, is a natural thing.

Then, Frega has pointed out that cyber threats faced by the Military will be in the form of attacks on defense systems and military commands, such as hacking, digital sabotage, or strategic data theft.

In addition, there are also threats to national vital infrastructure, such as attacks on electricity networks, telecommunications, transportation and several others that can have an impact on state stability. Even cyber defense will also face information and disinformation operations from certain parties that threaten state sovereignty, including those with motives to weaken public trust in institutions of defense and the government as well as having the potential to divide the nation.

Besides, the threat of cyber attacks from state or non-state actors can have an impact on national security, both in the form of espionage and cyber warfare.

Brigadier General Frega further explained that in its operationalization, the Indonesian Armed Forces will synergize and collaborate with other Ministries and Institutions that have tasks which intersect with cyber such as the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), the Ministry of Communication, and the National Police. Because Military's role in the cyber domain is defensive and strategic to support national defense, so there will be no overlapping authority.

" All actions taken by the Military will remain within the legal framework and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Every cyber defense operation carried out will be coordinated with relevant agencies in order to remain transparent and not violate the public's right to access information," he said.

Frega added, in principle, the Indonesian Military's involvement in the cyber defense domain is in line with the constitutional mandate to maintain state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of the Indonesian nation.

Source: The Indonesian Defense Ministry