SE Asia facing hidden extremist threat

In May, Indonesia's counter-terrorism unit arrested an 18-year-old man in Gowa, South Sulawesi, on charges of spreading Islamic State (IS) propaganda and inciting bomb attacks on social media.

- Muhammad Makmun Rasyid

Identified only as MAS, the suspect represents a deeply troubling development in Southeast Asia’s struggle against terrorism: the rise of youth radicalisation driven entirely by online exposure.

While militant networks across the region have suffered operational setbacks in recent years, their ideological campaigns have not only persisted — they have evolved. Today's battleground is no longer limited to physical spaces or clandestine training camps.

It is digital, decentralised, and disturbingly effective.

As extremist propaganda migrates online, the radicalisation of youth has become a growing security and societal concern. This is Cyber Jihad 2.0 — a sophisticated, borderless war for minds, fought in newsfeeds, private chats, and encrypted forums.

NEW BATTLEFIELD, YOUNGER TARGET

The internet has become the primary theatre for modern extremist movements. Since the collapse of IS's territorial hold in the Middle East, groups aligned with its ideology have increasingly embraced cyber-based strategies to sustain their influence. In this digital evolution, social media platforms are used not only for propaganda but also recruitment, indoctrination, and tactical instruction.

In Indonesia alone, the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) recorded over 180,000 pieces of extremist content circulating online throughout 2024. Instagram accounted for the highest volume, followed by Facebook and TikTok — platforms where Southeast Asia's digital-native generation spends most of its time.

Teenagers like MAS are not only susceptible to these narratives but may also become amplifiers — resharing, remixing, and spreading radical content across platforms. In this way, digital radicalisation is peer-driven, self-replicating, and largely invisible to traditional counterterrorism frameworks.