The evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) in Southeast Asia has entered an accelerated phase that is fundamentally transforming the global security landscape.
Cybercriminals are also becoming increasingly sophisticated. According to Accenture, a 223% surge in the trade of deepfake-related software on dark web forums was recorded in the first quarter of 2024. For Indonesia and Southeast Asia, this gap is not merely a technical issue but a matter of national resilience and regional stability. This article aims to elaborate Indonesia’s strategic measures to build digital resilience while also exploring ASEAN’s ongoing collective efforts toward an integrated, AI-driven cybersecurity architecture.
Indonesia: Building Digital Resilience from Within
Over the past two decades, the modern battlefield has expanded beyond land, sea, and air into cyberspace. The emergence of cyberattacks, the hacking of critical infrastructure, and disinformation campaigns represent new weapons on par with missile and drone strikes. For Indonesia, situated in Southeast Asia and geographically and diplomatically distant from major conflict zones, contemporary digital warfare nonetheless carries significant implications for the effort to achieve national digital resilience.
National Commitment and Cybersecurity Scores. Indonesia has demonstrated tangible leadership in the region. Boasting the highest cybersecurity index score in Southeast Asia, the nation’s commitment is evident through various strategic initiatives. There are at least three key pillars supporting the move toward an AI-driven cybersecurity system:
First, adaptive and collaborative regulation. The government actively opens avenues for relevant stakeholders, including academia, industry, and the community, to participate in the regulatory drafting process. This approach has been applied to the formulation of implementing regulations for the Personal Data Protection Law and the draft bill on Cybersecurity and Resilience. Such an approach should ensure that the regulatory framework remains practical, adaptive, and grounded in real-world risks.
Second: Information Exchange and Collaborative AI Solutions. Collaboration between industry and national institutions is crucial for understanding cyberattack patterns and developing AI solutions capable of detecting and preventing threats. These solutions are expected to benefit not only large-scale enterprises but also the general public through services such as call screening, fake identity detection, and government verification systems deployable nationwide.
Third: Digital Talent Development. Human capital is the most critical factor in realizing AI-driven cybersecurity. The government engages universities and industry partners to cultivate digital talent in the cybersecurity field, particularly to fill strategic roles. Digital literacy for vulnerable groups, including novice internet users, retirees, and small business owners, must also be prioritized.
Innovation from Local Industry. Government efforts are bolstered by private sector innovation. PT ITSEC Asia Tbk (CYBR) has developed IntelliBroń, the first cybersecurity product developed entirely in Indonesia. This product integrates AI-based threat analytics, automated incident response, and IT and digital security capabilities to protect critical infrastructure, MSMEs, and individuals. This step is expected to demonstrate the local industry’s potential to evolve beyond mere consumers of digital technology into creators of solutions relevant to national interests.
Institutional Strengthening. The government should also continue to support the establishment of a National Cyber and AI Task Force to bolster national digital resilience. Cross-sector synergy must be prioritized, serving as a key factor in formulating policies and technical implementations that are equitable and uphold human rights.
Cybersecurity Dynamics in ASEAN: Challenges and Opportunities
ASEAN Strategic Frameworks. At the regional level, ASEAN has formulated various strategic frameworks. The ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2026–2030 and the ASEAN Cybersecurity Strategic Plan 2026–2030 serve as key roadmaps for shaping the region’s digital future. The ASEAN Working Group on AI Governance (WG-AI) has finalized the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics (2024) and continues to develop an expanded version focusing on generative AI.
The ASEAN AI Safety Network represents a significant milestone established during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur (2025), where ASEAN leaders agreed to form the network. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the network serves as a platform to enhance cooperation, capacity building, regulatory setting, and readiness to address AI-related risks.
Law Enforcement and Security. ASEANAPOL, the ASEAN police body, is strengthening strategic partnerships with the private sector, such as with Kaspersky, to combat cross-border cybercrime. Discussions cover emerging cross-border cyber threats, including online fraud, ransomware, malware attacks, data breaches, and digitally facilitated organized crime. Both parties are exploring collaboration in digital forensics, real-time threat intelligence, incident response, capacity-building initiatives, and the responsible application of AI to enhance investigative effectiveness.
Harmonization of Regional Standards. Malaysian Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has called for the establishment of consistent digital and cybersecurity standards across ASEAN, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of AI. This is crucial for fostering the interoperability of security solutions and strengthening the region’s global digital economy position.
Cross-Border Technology Cooperation. Technological collaboration among nations is also intensifying. TOTM Technologies and KORIKA (Indonesia’s Artificial Intelligence Industry Research and Innovation Collaboration) have entered into a strategic partnership to drive the adoption of safe, responsible, and trusted technology in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. This collaboration encompasses inclusive AI development, the design of quantum-secure systems, and the cross-border exchange of interoperable digital credentials, aligning with the objectives of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
One of the region’s greatest challenges is regulatory fragmentation, which creates legal loopholes for cybercriminals. Through the House of Representatives’ Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, Indonesia is advocating for the harmonization of AI and cybersecurity regulations across ASEAN via the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). Such harmonization is crucial to preventing cross-border exploitation by digital crime syndicates.
The year 2026 marks a pivotal moment for all Southeast Asian nations. Vietnam is set to implement ASEAN’s first AI law in March 2026, while Indonesia continues to finalize presidential regulations on AI alongside the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. Ultimately, the readiness of individual Southeast Asian countries to establish AI guardrails will help determine the effectiveness of the regional security architecture.
Achieving digital resilience for Indonesia and AI-driven cybersecurity in Southeast Asia is not merely an option, but a necessity. In recent years, Indonesia has demonstrated leadership through the region’s highest cybersecurity scores, local product innovation, and efforts to harmonize regulations at the ASEAN level. However, significant challenges remain, including capacity gaps among member states, the rapid evolution of AI-related threats outpacing policy responses, and the need for closer, sustained public-private collaboration.
Hendra Manurung is currently an assistant professor of international relations at the Department of Defence Diplomacy, Faculty of Defence Strategy, Republic of Indonesia Defence University
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