Koteka Wenda was shocked when she stumbled upon an AI-generated video of herself circulating on social media.
In the video, she spoke out against the controversial documentary.
“It’s a very sinister resemblance to me,” she told ABC.
“I felt like me and my people were being violated.”
Wenda is the daughter of Benny Wenda, a leader of the West Papua United Liberation Movement.
The deepfake video shows Wenda criticizing the 90-minute film “Pig Feast: Modern Colonialism” (“Pesta Babi” in Indonesian).
The film, by Dandi Dwi Laxono and Sipri Jehan Paju Der, exposes large-scale deforestation and indigenous land exploitation in West Papua, allegedly facilitated by the Indonesian government through national strategic projects and big corporations.
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It also explores how Indonesia’s energy transition, the region’s sugar and biofuels industries relate to Australia, and reveals how multinational companies are benefiting from some of the projects being implemented in West Papua.
West Papuan activists targeted
The West Papua conflict is a long-running political and armed conflict in the western half of the island of New Guinea, which is administered by Indonesia.
At the heart of the issue is the debate over whether West Papua should remain part of Indonesia or become an independent state.
The Indonesian provinces of West Papua and Papua, often collectively referred to as West Papua, share a border with Papua New Guinea. (ABC News: Jarrod Fankauser)
Wenda and other West Papuan activists argue that the use of AI in targeted campaigns against West Papua is the latest crackdown aimed at silencing those who speak out about West Papua.
Last month, Amnesty International released a report documenting how disinformation campaigns are targeting and discrediting critics of the Indonesian government.
Wenda said he was concerned that AI-fabricated content could mislead supporters and leave them wondering “why did this high-profile freedom fighter switch sides?”
“If they don’t know me, they’ll probably think it’s me,” she says.
“I am concerned that my likeness is being used and believed to be actually true.”
Veronica Corman said she was targeted on social media for speaking out about West Papua.
(ABC RN: Alice Moldovan)
Sydney-based West Papuan activist Veronica Corman experienced a similar attack last year.
In one social media video, she appeared to praise the effort. Indonesian government in West Papua.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital later classified the clip as a “hoax.”
Corman said he believes the original footage of himself was taken from his Facebook account.
picture It was later altered to make it seem as if she said the Indonesian government cares more about West Papuans than it did before.
This was not the first time Corman had been targeted.
“Before that, there was a deepfake video of me performing a sex act,” Corman said.
“It’s very harmful, it’s upsetting and it’s really disgusting.”
Cormann did not specifically accuse anyone of creating the fake video, but suggested that “state actors” were likely responsible.
“Only state actors have access to so many resources.”
she said.
“Who would want to do that? Waste a lot of money and time on something like that.”
“Old wine in new bottles”
Amnesty International’s recent report, Building an Imaginary Enemy, revealed how Indonesian authorities, including the military, used disinformation campaigns to target and discredit government critics.
“This disinformation is a political weapon, used to strengthen governments’ power in times of heightened public criticism, while simultaneously demonizing and weakening those who dare to speak out,” Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Calmado said in a statement.
“Amnesty International research shows that in the 18 months since Mr Prabowo came to power, online disinformation has emerged as a key tactic to systematically discredit government critics, shut down public debate and justify repression, while social media companies sit back and let it happen,” she said.
Associate Professor Ken Setiawan from the University of Melbourne’s Institute of Asian Studies said human rights and Papuan activists had long been repressed in Indonesia.
Ken Setiawan says human rights oppression in Indonesia is nothing new. (Provided by: Ken Setiawan)
“And we know that security forces are deeply involved in the repression of human rights defenders, especially when it comes to West Papua,” Dr. Setiawan said.
”What has changed is the technology used, which is old wine in new bottles.”
ABC has contacted the Indonesian government and military for comment.
“Digital colonization”
Activists say it is “nothing new” to be targeted for speaking out about West Papua, including through disinformation campaigns.
“This is part of a long-running information war by the Indonesian government regarding West Papua since the 1960s,” Koman said.
“It all started with the ban on journalists entering West Papua, and this misinformation and disinformation should be seen in that context.”
In 2022, researchers at the Institute exposed a coordinated online disinformation campaign aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s claims to West Papua. University of Melbourne.
A 2019 joint investigation between the BBC and the Australian Strategic Policing Institute found that well-funded “biased or false content” in the form of news, infographics and videos on social media was fueling a narrative supporting the Indonesian government’s policies in West Papua.
Researchers also found that the campaign used disinformation through “bots” and automated social media accounts to weaken the voices of activists.
“Many people have told me that they are confused about what is really going on in West Papua, because the activists say A and the government says B,” Koman said.
“We know we can’t trust the government, but we also can’t trust activists.”
Wenda said that campaigns targeting activists, such as her own deepfake videos, A new form of “digital colony”.
“We West Papuans have had our voices silenced for over 60 years and have struggled to gain international media attention,” she said.
”This is a new battle for us.”
Wenda said that despite the challenges posed by AI, social media has given activists “confidence” that their voices are finally being heard.
“I believe that the truth cannot be silenced, even if our voices are appropriated or stolen,” she said.
Indonesia’s military has largely denied allegations of human rights abuses in West Papua. (Reuters: Olha Muralinda/Antara/File)
Wenda and Corman said they wish younger generations would be more critical of what they see on social media.
Corman said those who want to continue defending West Papua should “carefully consider” the technology they use.
“That way we can maintain trust,” she said.
