Prabowo Wiretapping Case Revives Indonesia's Surveillance History

Allegations of communications surveillance targeting Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have renewed scrutiny of security operations involving the country's highest officials. The latest case, which emerged on Nov. 3, 2026, allegedly involves senior police figures and follows several previous controversies affecting Indonesian presidents and political leaders.

Former National Police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who most recently served in Prabowo's cabinet, has been implicated alongside two other senior police officials. Authorities have warned that additional arrests could follow, according to Channel NewsAsia.

The alleged surveillance operation between 2025 and 2026 reportedly targeted more than the president. State officials, political figures, media representatives, civil society leaders and nongovernmental organizations were also among the alleged targets.

Indonesia's history of surveillance controversies stretches back to the country's transition from the New Order regime to democracy. Earlier cases involved leaked presidential conversations, foreign intelligence operations and suspected recording equipment at official facilities.

One of the earliest controversies emerged during BJ Habibie's presidency. A telephone conversation between Habibie and Attorney-General Andi M Ghalib, held on Dec. 10, 1998, reportedly concerned the legal handling of former president Suharto, who had left office in May that year.

A transcript surfaced in Indonesian media in February 1999, raising questions about communications security inside the presidential palace. Media reports also pointed to suspicions that a small microphone had been concealed in the president's office, although investigators never publicly identified those responsible for the alleged surveillance or transcript leak.

Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri raised separate concerns in October 2024 while attending the inauguration of a new headquarters for her party's youth wing in Jakarta. She claimed that communications surveillance frequently targeted her and said she avoided using her personal mobile number.

As chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati said she borrowed her assistant's phone when contacting other people. She also described confronting individuals she suspected of monitoring her communications, although she did not publicly identify them.

Another major controversy involved Australian intelligence and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The operation reportedly took place in August 2009, during his first presidential term, but became public in November 2013 following investigations published by Australia's ABC and The Guardian.

The reports drew on classified documents leaked by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. According to the documents, Australia's Defence Signals Directorate monitored Susilo's mobile phone activity for 15 days, collecting call records to identify people who contacted him and those he called.

Australian intelligence also reportedly attempted to obtain the contents of his telephone conversations. One attempt allegedly failed because the call lasted less than a minute.

The surveillance reportedly extended to several people close to Susilo, including his wife Ani Yudhoyono, Vice-President Boediono, former vice-president Jusuf Kalla and other government officials.

The disclosures triggered strong diplomatic protests from Jakarta. In November 2013, Susilo instructed Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa to recall Indonesia's ambassador from Canberra and demanded an explanation from the Australian government.

Indonesia considered the intelligence activities damaging to its strategic partnership with Australia. Both governments subsequently pursued discussions on a bilateral code of ethics and conduct, making progress toward restoring relations by May 2014.

Former president Joko Widodo also faced surveillance concerns before his election as president in 2014. The allegations emerged while he was serving as Jakarta governor, after Tjahjo Kumolo, then secretary-general of Widodo's former PDI-P party, disclosed the discovery of suspected recording equipment.

According to Tjahjo, an internal security team found at least three devices believed to have been designed to record or intercept conversations at facilities used by Widodo. The equipment was reportedly discovered in the living room, dining room, main bedroom and official vehicle at the governor's residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

The discovery raised concerns about the security of private communications as Widodo became a prominent political figure ahead of the 2014 presidential election.