Of Social Discipline and Control

Recent scholarship on disinformation points to a range of adverse effects on society, including its potential to fragment institutions and incite violence. Despite this, little research has looked into the stratified effects of fake news in society – particularly on how minorities are disproportionately victimised by the problem. This study sets out to analyse the qualitative impact of fake news on racial, ethnic and sexual minority communities in Indonesia through the theory of gendered and stratified misinformation. Three research questions are addressed: first, what disinformation campaigns affecting minority groups have emerged in Indonesia? Next, how have these campaigns influenced and shaped social behavior of minorities? Lastly, how is the state implicated in the problem, and to what extent are state responses considered adequate? Drawing upon primary data collected through interviews with Indonesian citizens belonging to major minority groups, this study’s findings reveal the disproportionate impact fake news has on minority communities in Indonesia. It sheds light on how fake news has been weaponised by hegemonic groups in society to both amass various forms of political and religious capital, as well as to socially control and discipline minority groups. Furthermore, it shows how the state is implicated through politicised policing of fake news.