A legislator at the House of Representatives’ (DPR) Foreign, Defense and Security Affairs Commission I has called on the Indonesian Military (TNI) to explain the alleged criminal act by YouTuber Ferry Irwandi, who has been accused of threatening TNI’s cyber defense system.
“TNI, or specifically its Cyber Unit commander, must clearly explain what actions were committed by Ferry Irwandi that are considered a threat to the cyber defense of the Defense Ministry and TNI,” TB Hasanuddin of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDi-P) faction said on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
He expressed doubts over the allegations, citing a Constitutional Court ruling that states defamation against institutions cannot be prosecuted as a criminal offense.
“The Constitutional Court has firmly ruled that defamation can only be prosecuted if it targets an individual, not an institution,” the retired two-star Army general said.
Earlier this week, Brigadier General Juinta Omboh Sembiring, Commander of TNI’s Cyber Unit, revealed the alleged offense following a cyber patrol. Juinta later brought the findings for a consultation with the Jakarta Police on Monday, September 8, 2025, along with Commander of the TNI’s Internal Affairs Unit Major General Yusri Nuryanto, TNI Spokesman Brigadier General Freddy Ardianzah, and Rear Admiral Farid Ma’ruf of TNI’s Legal Aid Center.
Hasanuddin stressed that according to the 2014 Defense Ministry’s Cyber Defense Guidelines, TNI’s cyber defense authority applies only internally within the Defense Ministry and TNI. He urged the military to clarify why Ferry’s actions are deemed unlawful or a threat, to ensure public understanding.
The PDI-P lawmaker also reminded the TNI to avoid measures that could obscure the line between freedom of expression, individual rights, and institutional authority.
Meanwhile, Ferry has responded through a video on his Instagram account @irwandiferry, saying that he was unaware of any alleged crime. He declared readiness to undergo legal proceedings and denied feeling intimidated.
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