"Based on the Constitutional Court ruling, institutions cannot file defamation reports. Such cases must be reported personally by individuals," Fian said at Jakarta Police Headquarters, South Jakarta, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
The statement came after TNI Cyber Unit Commander Juinta Omboh Sembiring visited Jakarta Police to discuss findings related to Ferry's alleged online statements.
According to Fian, Constitutional Court Ruling No. 105/PUU-XXII/2024 makes clear that only individuals, not state institutions, can lodge defamation complaints.
Earlier, Juinta said the TNI Cyber Unit had detected possible violations committed by Ferry during a routine cyberspace sweep. "From our cyber patrol, we found indications of alleged criminal acts committed by Mr. Ferry Irwandi," Juinta told reporters on Monday, September 8.
Following consultations with police, Juinta said the TNI would pursue legal steps. "As law-abiding citizens, we prioritize legal channels. We will take steps regarding these alleged acts," he stated, though he declined to elaborate on the specific offenses.
He added that Ferry had previously spoken online about algorithms, which prompted him to seek clarification. "I consulted with Jakarta Police because he was talking about algorithms and related matters. As Cyber Unit Commander, I also deal with those issues," Juinta said.
Juinta also claimed he had attempted to contact Ferry, but his calls went unanswered. His staff, too, were unable to reach him.
When contacted separately, Ferry said he was unaware of the TNI's move. "I don't know anything about it," he told reporters over the phone.
Ferry has recently gained attention as one of the influencers behind the "17+8 People's Demands" movement, alongside public figures like Fathia Izzati and Andovi da Lopez.
In 2023, he founded the educational platform Malaka Project and has since built a strong online following, with 1.92 million YouTube subscribers.
He continues to upload political commentary content, including recent videos on nationwide protests. Eight days ago, he posted "The Puppet Master of the Protests and Preventing a Military Emergency", followed two days later by "A Full Explanation of the Series of Protests and Solutions."
– Nabiila Azzahra contributed to the writing this article.