Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) said 620 children in 34 provinces were exposed to violent extremism and radical ideologies online during the first eight months of 2026.
Speaking at a national prevention forum in Jakarta on Wednesday, BNPT Chief Eddy Hartono said the figures were based on intelligence gathered with police counterterrorism unit Densus 88.
The affected children, aged 11 to 18, encountered extremist content through online forums, podcasts, YouTube and specialized virtual communities, he said.
BNPT research indicates the internet has become the most effective medium for terrorist propaganda, recruitment and financing, Hartono said, highlighting its growing role in extremist activities.
He said minors were often drawn into broader digital ecosystems centered on real-world violence, where repeated exposure could contribute to the normalization of violent behavior.
Hartono cited the True Crime Community, where members discuss and analyze violent historical events, as an example of an online subculture requiring careful monitoring.
He stressed that an interest in true crime does not itself indicate terrorism or warrant stigmatizing young people, but warned that glorifying violence can create risks.
BNPT said all 620 identified minors had received targeted interventions from law enforcement and child welfare authorities following the assessments.
The agency is also expanding early-intervention programs within schools to prevent violent extremism and radicalization from spreading through Indonesia’s education system.
BNPT is working with the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry, Religious Affairs Ministry and Social Affairs Ministry to strengthen prevention efforts nationwide.
The programs provide specialized training for school committees, teachers and administrators to identify and address signs of radicalization in classrooms and local communities.
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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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