The latest report from Citizen Lab, a research institute in the digital security field based in Toronto, Canada, reveals how digital technology is increasingly used as a tool of repression in several countries, including Indonesia. In the report, published early this month, Citizen Lab investigated the use of the Circles program to spy and intercept SMS and telephone communication.

Circles technology is mainly used by the buyer's country's intelligence agency. Indonesia is one of the program buyers affiliated with the NSO Group, a company from Israel, although the Citizen Lab report did not specify which institution in Indonesia had bought the program or whether it is a state agency or a private institution. In contrast, for instance, the United Arab Emirates intelligence authorities included proof of purchase of the program, according to the report.

Simply put the, Circles is used by installing a specific system on a communication provider without the need to hack the target's phone that is being attacked. The perpetrator only needs to tap into all target communication that is not encrypted, as in calls or text messages through cellular communication. This could be avoided if the target implements a security protocol that is relatively easy, for example, using two-step authentication (2FA) instead of using short message services (SMS) or phone calls.

Although the practice of wiretapping by intelligence circles is not new, the Citizen Lab report keeps our eyes open on how digital technology has morphed into a tool to oppress the people. The report shows the technology and method used to attack activists and civilians alike to raise public awareness of digital security.

Despite the threats, until now, ICT remains an important part of social movements. In every part of the world, there is no movement without the use of hashtags to mobilize public support and engagement. ICT plays an important part in political changes, as what happened in the Arab Spring a decade ago and in the democratic movement in Thailand today.

In Indonesia, activists and critical groups actively use social media to voice their political statements, including the hashtags #ReformasiDikorupsi (Corrupted Reform) and #CabutOmnibusLaw (Drop the Omnibus Law). Likewise, social media has given a boost to public movements in many regions as in the case of the antireclamation movement in Bali, which has been going on for nearly seven years.

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