Deepfake Videos of Indonesian Finance Minister Promote Grant Hoax
Deepfake videos circulated in Indonesia falsely portraying Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa announcing government grant programs and directing the public to register for funds. The ministry confirmed the videos were AI-generated deepfakes designed to deceive people as part of a digital fraud scheme.
What happened
Multiple deepfake videos circulated on social media claiming to show Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa announcing government grant programs. One video claimed the ministry would distribute Rp250 million per household in June 2026, directing citizens to register online to receive funds immediately. Another video showed the minister allegedly forbidding Indonesians from participating in non-government grant programs and provided a WhatsApp contact number for registration.
The Kementerian Keuangan (Finance Ministry) confirmed both videos were deepfakes created using AI technology that manipulated the minister's face and voice. The fraudulent accounts spreading the videos were not official government accounts and used fake credentials to appear legitimate, including a TikTok account with only 6 followers using a state secretariat logo.
Reported impact
The ministry warned that these deepfake videos were part of a digital fraud scheme exploiting the public figure to deceive citizens into registering for fraudulent grants. The hoax misrepresented government grant programs, which the ministry stated only provide funds for specific purposes such as national development, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid to institutions or governments, not direct cash payments to individuals or households.
Index analysis
The videos used deepfake technology to create convincing but false statements attributed to the Finance Minister, combining AI-generated video with false claims about government financial programs. The scam leveraged the authority of the public figure and official-looking accounts to increase credibility with potential victims.
Governance controls
The Finance Ministry's Communication Bureau and Information and Documentation Management Officer (PPID) publicly confirmed the videos were hoaxes and explained that government grants are not distributed as direct cash payments to the public. The ministry advised citizens to verify financial information through official government channels before trusting or sharing such content on social media.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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