Indonesia's wiretapping scandal opens a political fault line

Senior police officers are accused of illegally monitoring President Prabowo Subianto, exposing rival networks within Indonesia's security establishment and renewing concerns about political misuse of surveillance. For decades, Indonesia's police and intelligence agencies have been accused of spying on politicians, journalists, and activists, Now, a widening scandal involving some of the country's most senior police officers has brought those concerns to the heart of government.

Earlier this month, Indonesian police named four senior officers as suspects in an alleged illegal surveillance operation targeting President Prabowo Subianto and other prominent figures. Former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who is not related to the president, was among the senior officers arrested.

The ex-police chief became the president's chief of staff in October, just weeks before the scandal broke. Investigators claim that officers intercepted communications without proper authorization in 2025 and 2026 and then tried to delete records of the operation.