Digital terror threats are rising in Southeast Asia

INDONESIA hasn’t suffered a major terrorist attack in more than two years. But this calm is deceptive. The threat has shifted online, making it harder to detect, and potentially more insidious.

- By Karishma Vaswani

This isn’t an isolated problem. Islamic State used online radicalization and recruitment to draw fighters to Syria and Iraq, extending its influence to the Sahel and Afghanistan.

But recently the digital terror threat is becoming more urgent in Southeast Asia. Singapore’s latest security assessment warns of a worrying trend of individuals being exposed to extremist groups on social media. Physical training camps or sermons are no longer necessary for the ideology to spread, raising the risk of homegrown attacks, and complicating counterterrorism efforts.

Indonesia and the Philippines remain among some of the most affected by terrorism in the region, along with Myanmar and Thailand, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2025. Jakarta and Manila’s scores improved, but their governments can’t afford to ignore future threats. Radicalization, recruitment, and financing are moving into the digital space, making fora far more challenging enemy.

Southeast Asia’s demographics make it particularly vulnerable. Several nations have among the world’s largest youth populations. With widespread smartphone access and high social media penetration, children and teens are especially exposed. Ignoring this means a new generation could get radicalized well before adulthood.