This is Digital Violence Frequently Experienced by Indonesian Journalists

A report by the Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) reveals that 67.2% of 2,020 Indonesian journalists surveyed experienced online violence in the past five years.

Of the ten types of online violence investigated, being monitored or stalked was the most prevalent, affecting 51.9% of respondents.

“By definition, stalking is the repeated and unwanted act against a person that can cause fear or anxiety,” AJI wrote in its report, *Portrait of Indonesian Journalists 2025*.

The next most common form of violence was the spread of rumors or slander (42.7%).

This was followed by bullying, threats, and non-gender-based intimidation (40.9%), encompassing threats of violence, murder, and intimidation related to journalistic content.

AJI stated that the high incidence of such violence is concerning, as digital attacks can severely impact journalists' personal and professional lives.

The following list details the ten types of online violence frequently experienced by Indonesian journalists in the past five years:

1. Monitored/Stalked: 51.9%
2. Spread of rumors/slander: 42.7%
3. Bullying, threats, and non-gender-based intimidation: 40.9%
4. Phishing: 35.6%
5. Hacking or takeover of social media accounts: 33.8%
6. Doxing: 33.2%
7. Gender-based digital attacks: 31.9%
8. Identity theft: 31.8%
9. Social engineering: 31.1%
10. Interception or wiretapping: 30.3%

This survey involved 2,020 active Indonesian journalists working across various media platforms. Respondents were selected using purposive sampling based on data from journalists registered with the Indonesian Press Council.

Additionally, AJI conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) as a qualitative method to deepen the survey's findings.

Data collection was conducted online from October 15 to November 26, 2024, using questionnaires. The survey has a margin of error of approximately 2.2% at a 95% confidence level.