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EngageMedia launches the latest findings from media monitoring regarding incidents of AI and other new technologies in 2025 (74 cases) and succeeded in documenting an increase in cases of AI incidents in the small- to moderate- to disaster-scale category, which escalated so much that it almost quadrupled from the previous two years, 2022-2024. Two with a heavy loss scale include:

1. Tempo, together with other journalists in 11 countries, revealed the surveillance technology practices of the First Wap company, which tracked 14,000 telephone numbers throughout the world during the company’s operations. This coverage reveals that First Wap supplies software to spy on and track the location of activists and important figures in Indonesia through their devices. First Wap’s tracking target profiles in Indonesia are varied, ranging from musicians, academics, and entrepreneurs to a Tempo journalist. Tempo concluded that some of the numbers were figures who often spoke critically of the government.
2. Residents of Batam report that droughts and water shortages are becoming more frequent following the construction of 18 data centres at the Batam Industrial Complex. In 2024, water will only flow for a few hours per day to urban and residential areas, while in industrial complexes, it will flow non-stop. When the entire data centre is fully operational in 2032, the complex is expected to consume about 8% of the island’s total water supply. Other cities in Indonesia have the potential to experience this condition. Half of Indonesia’s 170 data centres are located in the hottest regions, according to a report from Rest of the World. In addition to water usage, the data centre also impacts electricity supply capacity for residents living in the surrounding area. Extreme heat places a heavy load on cooling systems in data centres, but it also reduces power transmission efficiency, increasing the risk of outages.

This media monitoring project focuses on providing descriptive data on AI incidents and analysing the elements surrounding them. The project will specifically concentrate on identifying the impact and harm, as well as identifying the human and environmental rights that the incident has impacted. We derive the human & environmental rights classification from international conventions ratified and/or adopted by Indonesia to highlight the country’s legal obligations to participate in ensuring proper AI governance that respects the aforementioned rights. Our current launch focuses on incidents occurring in 2025, with refined categorisation and analysis of the regulatory gaps in each case.

The majority of these cases occurred at the post-deployment stage, underscoring the necessity for robust safeguarding measures for AI and other emerging technologies before deployment. Technologies operated by both the private sector and government services are prominently involved as developers, deployers, or enablers in many of these alleged incidents, making accountability mechanisms crucial for investigation and victim remedy, regardless of intentionality. 

The most frequently violated rights were individual autonomy and reputational rights, predominantly stemming from deepfakes and AI-powered disinformation targeting specific individuals or communities. The minor-to-moderate scale of most incidents suggests that existing legal instruments can effectively address them. 

The topical analysis of the findings reveals that deepfakes are the most recurring incidents, frequently involving the likeness of famous individuals and public figures for Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII) and advertisements for illegal sales (such as online gambling and fake supplements), as well as fraud and disinformation. 

We also document tech-powered mass-surveillance practices, which are particularly prevalent during crises, such as protests, or when targeting specific activists and journalists. Algorithmically-powered Big Tech is also changing the employment landscape for many Indonesians who rely on e-hailing and e-commerce applications for their income. Many informal workers reported longer working hours, reduced pay, and harsher penalties, along with difficult appeal procedures, due to the increased reliance on the companies’ algorithms. 

Additionally, environmental concerns regarding the expansion of emerging tech in Indonesia were documented for the first time this year, with reports indicating that the establishment of data centres could lead to excessive consumption of clean water and electricity.

Please refer to the report below for a detailed analysis and breakdown of each alleged incident. 

For a more detailed documentation and analysis of the cases, please visit the database below:

The English Text for our 2025 Media Monitoring Findings were copyedited and proofread by Marina Nasution and Meivy Andriani, from data collected by EngageMedia.