SOCIOLOGÍA Y TECNOCIENCIA, 15.1 (2025): 15.1 (2025): 202-222
ISSN: 1989-8487
La in e sección en e ecnología, polí ica mone a ia y
democ acia en Indonesia
The In e sec ion o Technology, Money Poli ics, and
Democ acy in Indonesia
SITI FATIMAH
Facul y o Social and Poli ical Science, Uni e si as Diponego o, E langga Ba a 7 S ee
No. 31 Sema ang - 50241, Cen al Ja a, Indonesia
[email p o ec ed]
ORCID: h ps://o cid.o g/0009-0004-6491-0940
KUSHANDAJANI
Facul y o Social and Poli ical Science, Uni e si as Diponego o, E langga Ba a 7 S ee
No. 31 Sema ang - 50241, Cen al Ja a, Indonesia
[email p o ec ed]d
ORCID: h ps://o cid.o g/0000-0003-3854-6765
FITRIYAH
Facul y o Social and Poli ical Science, Uni e si as Diponego o, E langga Ba a 7 S ee
No. 31 Sema ang - 50241, Cen al Ja a, Indonesia
[email p o ec ed]
ORCID: h ps://o cid.o g/0000-0002-2067-7858
MUHAMMAD ADNAN
Facul y o Social and Poli ical Science, Uni e si as Diponego o, E langga Ba a 7 S ee
No. 31 Sema ang - 50241, Cen al Ja a, Indonesia
[email p o ec ed]
ORCID: h ps://o cid.o g/0009-0008-2987-8438
Recibido/Recei ed: 11/12/2023. Acep ado/Accep ed: 20/12/2024.
Cómo ci a /How o ci e: Fa imah, Si i, Kushandajani, Fi iyah & Adnan, Muhammad
(2025) The in e sec ion o Technology, Money Poli ics and Democ acy in Indonesia.
Sociología y Tecnociencia, 15 (1), 202-222. DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.24197/s .1.2025.202-
222.
A ículo de acceso abie o dis ibuido bajo una Licencia C ea i e Commons A ibución
4.0 In e nacional (CC-BY 4.0). / Open access a icle unde a C ea i e Commons
A ibu ion 4.0 In e na ional License (CC-BY 4.0).
The In e sec ion o Technology, Money Poli ics, and Democ acy in Indonesia
SOCIOLOGÍA Y TECNOCIENCIA, 15.1 (2025): 202-222
ISSN: 1989-8487
203
Resumen: Es e a ículo in es iga la in e sección en e ecnología, polí ica mone a ia y democ acia en
Indonesia, cen ándose en las elecciones egionales de la p o incia de Ja a Cen al. El es udio p e ende
en ende cómo in luyen los a ances ecnológicos en la polí ica mone a ia y en la in eg idad
democ á ica. Se u ilizó un en oque cuali a i o desc ip i o, ecopilando da os p ima ios median e
en e is as con analis as polí icos, polí icos locales, expe os en ecnociencia y líde es comuni a ios, y
da os secunda ios de la bibliog a ía exis en e. Los esul ados e elan que, si bien la ecnología puede
mejo a la anspa encia y la pa icipación de los o an es, ambién acili a la polí ica del dine o a a és
de donaciones anónimas y desin o mación. La in es igación pone de elie e la p ác ica pe sis en e de
la polí ica del dine o impulsada po las dispa idades económicas, que soca a los alo es democ á icos.
El es udio concluye con ecomendaciones de ma cos egulado es sólidos y es ue zos de colabo ación
en e las pa es in e esadas pa a mejo a la in eg idad elec o al.
Palab as cla e: Democ acia, polí ica mone a ia, ecnología, elecciones, polí ica
Abs ac : The pape in es iga es he in e sec ion o echnology, money poli ics, and democ acy in
Indonesia, ocusing on egional elec ions in Cen al Ja a P o ince. The s udy aims o unde s and how
echnological ad ancemen s in luence money poli ics and impac democ a ic in eg i y. A desc ip i e
quali a i e app oach was used, ga he ing p ima y da a h ough in e iews wi h poli ical analys s, local
poli icians, echnoscience expe s, and communi y leade s, and seconda y da a om exis ing li e a u e.
The indings e eal ha while echnology can enhance anspa ency and o e engagemen , i also
acili a es money poli ics h ough anonymous dona ions and misin o ma ion. The esea ch highligh s
he pe sis en p ac ice o money poli ics d i en by economic dispa i ies, unde mining democ a ic
alues. The s udy concludes wi h ecommenda ions o obus egula o y amewo ks and collabo a i e
e o s among s akeholde s o enhance elec o al in eg i y
Keywo ds: Democ acy, Money Poli ics, Technology, Elec ion, Poli ics.
1. INTRODUCTION
Democ acy is a poli ical sys em designed o p oduce leade ship ha can openly
espond o he challenges and p oblems aced by he people, and i is pe cei ed as
inclusi e by all s akeholde s (Anggono & Wahanisa, 2022; Kusumasa i, 2020). A
i s co e, democ acy is ounded on p inciples such as poli ical equali y, ci izen
pa icipa ion, and he p o ec ion o human igh s. These p inciples ensu e ha all
indi iduals ha e an equal say in he go e nance o hei coun y, os e ing a poli ical
en i onmen whe e leade s a e accoun able o he people. In Indonesia, he
implemen a ion o democ acy as a s a e ideology encoun e s nume ous challenges
(Gonscho ek, 2021). Since he all o Suha o’s au ho i a ian egime in 1998,
Indonesia has made signi ican s ides owa ds democ a iza ion, adop ing e o ms
ha aim o p omo e poli ical eedom and anspa ency. Howe e , hese challenges
pose signi ican isks o he s abili y and e ec i eness o democ a ic go e nance,
o en leading o i s weakening o ailu e (Mis an e al., 2021). One o he majo
con ibu ing ac o s o he e osion o democ acy is he pe asi e p ac ice o money
poli ics, which unde mines he in eg i y o he elec o al sys em (Reu e , 2015).
Money poli ics is a de imen al p ac ice wi hin he elec o al sys em ha
unde mines democ a ic in eg i y. In an imma u e democ a ic sys em such as
Indonesia, money poli ics is ex ensi ely used o ga ne suppo , which dis o s he
Si i Fa imah e al.
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democ a ic p ocess (Feilla d, 2013; Kusumasa i, 2020). A he local le el, his issue
is pa icula ly p onounced, as poli icians wi h subs an ial economic esou ces exploi
oppo uni ies o gain elec o al ad an ages (Simandjun ak, 2012). Despi e being
illegal unde Indonesian law, as s ipula ed in Law No. 3/1999 A icle 73/3, money
poli ics pe sis s, wi h legal epe cussions o hose who engage in o accep elec o al
b ibes (Hadiz, 2012; Simandjun ak, 2012). In egional head elec ions, money poli ics
is a s a egic ool o mobilizing communi ies and in luencing o e s, he eby
deg ading democ a ic alues (Reu e , 2015; Sa aswa i, 2021).
The ounda ional concep o democ acy is oo ed in igh s-based poli ics, whe e
indi iduals a e p esumed o unde s and hei in e es s be e han anyone else
(Gonscho ek, 2021; Hadiz, 2007). Howe e , democ acy al e s when indi iduals
engage in money poli ics o sho - e m gains, sac i icing hei human and
cons i u ional igh s o immedia e bene i s (Reu e , 2015). This p ac ice leads o a
dec ease in o e esponsi eness o candida es' p og ams and policies, ocusing
ins ead on ma e ial bene i s (Gonscho ek, 2021; Mie zne , 2012). The p e alence o
money poli ics no only damages na ional mo als bu also des abilizes he democ a ic
s uc u e, making elec ions less ee and ai due o he in luence o money (Hadiz,
2012; Hellmann, 2014; Kusumasa i, 2020).
The ise o echnology in mode n elec o al p ocesses in oduces bo h
oppo uni ies and challenges. Technological ad ancemen s ha e he po en ial o
enhance anspa ency and o e engagemen (da Sil a Ne o & Chia ini, 2021) bu
also p esen new a enues o he pe pe ua ion o money poli ics. Digi al pla o ms
can acili a e anonymous dona ions and he dissemina ion o misin o ma ion, which
can manipula e o e beha io and unde mine elec o al in eg i y (Teno e, e al.,
2018; Benkle , e al., 2020). In he pos - u h e a, cha ac e ized by he dominance o
subjec i e u hs o e objec i e ac s, public us is in luenced mo e by emo ional
appeals han by scien i ic e idence, making i easie o money poli ics o lou ish
h ough echnological means.
The p ima y objec i es o his esea ch a e wo old. Fi s , o unde s and how
echnology in luences money poli ics wi hin he con ex o Indonesia’s democ a ic
p ocesses. This includes examining how digi al pla o ms and echnological ools a e
used o mobilize inancial esou ces and dissemina e poli ical messages. Second, o
analyze he impac o hese echnological in luences on democ a ic in eg i y, o e
beha io , and elec ion ou comes, pa icula ly in he egional elec ions in Cen al Ja a
P o ince.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Democ acy is a sys em whe e he go e nmen is con olled by he people, and
whe e he people a e conside ed equal in exe cising ha con ol (Gonscho ek, 2021;
Mie zne , 2012; Suaib e al., 2017). Howe e , unequal access o poli ical unding
esul s in an unheal hy playing ield (Saidi e al., 2021). The apid g ow h o
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campaign spending in many coun ies has exace ba ed he p oblem o poli ical
unding and spending (Kusumasa i, 2020). In Indonesia, la ge amoun s o poli ical
unding in some elec ion campaigns make i di icul o poli ical pa ies o es ablish
equi able coope a ion and unding assis ance ela ionships, including secu ing la ge
p i a e dono unding o compe e in he elec o al p ocess (Ince i, 2018; Sobe man
& Sadoule , 2007).
The inancing o poli ical pa y campaign unds and elec ion campaigns mus
be based on p inciples and ules (Kusumasa i, 2020; Zhi no , 2016). One essen ial
p inciple is a easonable balance be ween public and p i a e unding (Da y &
Pe mana, 2019; Gonscho ek, 2021). P opo ional c i e ia in he cu en elec o al
con ex ela e o dis ibu ions and con ibu ions by ela ed pa ies, applicable ules on
p i a e dona ions, h esholds on pa ies, and campaign inance expendi u es ela ed
o elec ion campaigns (Da y & Pe mana, 2019; Gonscho ek, 2021; Mie zne , 2012).
This includes comple e anspa ency o he iden i y o gi e s and suppo e s in
campaign inancing, as well as he es ablishmen o independen audi ing au ho i ies
and sanc ions o pa ies and candida es who b eak he ules (Reu e , 2015; Sa aswa i,
2021).
In i s implemen a ion, poli ical pa ies equi e adequa e unding (Reu e , 2015;
Saidi e al., 2021; Sa aswa i, 2021). The ela ionship be ween unding and poli ics is
con o e sial, and he e is much deba e abou he ole and ele ance o unding's
in luence on democ a ic poli ical p ocesses and he unau ho ized pe sonal
en ichmen o poli icians (Da ies, 2021). While he non- anspa en aspec s o
poli ical unding should no be o e looked, he ele ance o unding goes a beyond
unau ho ized sou ces and lows o pa ies and poli icians (Kusumasa i, 2020). The
scope o poli ical unding has b oade ele ance in he con ex o democ a ic
unc ioning and should he e o e be iewed mo e b oadly han simply deba ing he
non- anspa ency o poli ical pa y unding (Da ies, 2021).
T adi ionally, poli ical unding in pa ies has been exclusi ely h ough
membe ship ees, bu his is no longe widely applied by mos pa ies in mode n
democ acies (Pu a e al., n.d.; Sep iadi e al., 2021). Howe e , his does no ule ou
he possibili y o poli ical unding om he p i a e sec o apa om membe ship
ees, bo h om inside and ou side he pa y (Kusumasa i, 2020). Addi ionally,
dona ions om elec ed pa y membe s in bo h he execu i e and legisla u e om
allowance deduc ions may also be a o m o hidden public unding ha is di icul o
publicize wi h he independence and manda e o pa y ules, especially when
paymen s a e an obliga ion om he pa y ha poli icians mus ul ill (Anggono &
Wahanisa, 2022; Hellmann, 2014).
O he sou ces o poli ical unding, such as dona ions, ace isks in building
ela ionships ha in ol e mone a y dona ions and speci ic poli ical decisions (Da y
& Pe mana, 2019; Mie zne , 2012). In his con ex , he misuse o poli ical unding
may be enough o educe public us in he poli ical sys em and i s poli ical ac o s,
he eby unde mining democ a ic legi imacy (Mis an e al., 2021; Sup ian o e al.,
Si i Fa imah e al.
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2020). In p ac ice, he implemen a ion o poli ical unding h ough dona ions has
inc eased and become a end in poli ical unding (Saidi e al., 2021; Sa aswa i, 2021;
Siahaan & Tampubolon, 2021).
The e a e es ic ions on ce ain sou ces and amoun s o p i a e dona ions, while
s a e unds mus be alloca ed on he condi ion ha poli ical pa y accoun s a e subjec
o ex e nal audi s by specialized go e nmen agencies (Da y & Pe mana, 2019; Saidi
e al., 2021; Sa aswa i, 2021; Siahaan & Tampubolon, 2021). T anspa ency o
poli ical pa y unding mus be ensu ed o a oid he possibili y o undesi able
in luence o unding on pa y poli ics and policies. Any pa y unding sys em and
es ic ions imposed on poli ical pa ies and hei inancial sou ces will only be
e ec i e wi h s ong con ol mechanisms and sanc ions o iola ions (Pu a e al.,
n.d.; Siahaan & Tampubolon, 2021).
Pa y unding gene ally e e s o all egula ions o he Republic o Indonesia
Law No. 7/2017 on gene al elec ions and/o legal documen s ela ed o he unding
and inancing ope a ions o poli ical pa ies. The egula o y amewo k o poli ical
unding includes cons i u ional p o isions, laws on poli ical pa ies and laws on
poli ical pa y inancing and elec ion campaigns passed by he legisla u e, and all
o he laws ha impac poli ical pa y inancing (Kusumasa i, 2020).
Technological ad ancemen s ha e in oduced a dual ole in enhancing and
unde mining elec o al in eg i y. On he one hand, echnology can inc ease
anspa ency, s eamline unding p ocesses, and acili a e g ea e o e engagemen
(Simon e al., 2017; da Sil a Ne o & Chia ini, 2021). Digi al pla o ms can make i
easie o o e s o access in o ma ion abou candida es and hei unding sou ces,
he eby p omo ing accoun abili y (Simon e al., 2017). On he o he hand, echnology
can also be used o pe pe ua e money poli ics h ough anonymous dona ions, sp ead
misin o ma ion, and manipula e o e beha io (Teno e, e al., 2018; Benkle , e al.,
2020). The ease wi h which digi al pla o ms can be exploi ed o dissemina e alse
in o ma ion and engage in une hical unding p ac ices p esen s signi ican challenges
o main aining elec o al in eg i y.
This e iew will use he concep s discussed o analyze he con ex o Indonesia,
examining how echnological in luences in e sec wi h adi ional poli ical unding
mechanisms o impac democ a ic p ocesses. By unde s anding he dual ole o
echnology, his esea ch aims o p o ide insigh s in o how Indonesia can be e
manage poli ical unding and enhance elec o al in eg i y.
3. METHODOLOGY
This esea ch employs a desc ip i e quali a i e app oach o examine he
dynamics o money poli ics and he ole o echnoscience wi hin he implemen a ion
o democ acy a he egional le el in Indonesia. Quali a i e esea ch aims o
unde s and and classi y he meanings behind human beha io s and in e ac ions in
speci ic si ua ions, acco ding o he esea che 's pe spec i e (Le i e al., 2018).
The In e sec ion o Technology, Money Poli ics, and Democ acy in Indonesia
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Unlike quan i a i e esea ch, quali a i e me hods do no ely on s a is ical p ocedu es
o nume ical analysis bu ins ead ocus on in-dep h insigh s h ough a ious
quali a i e echniques.
Da a collec ion o his s udy in ol ed bo h p ima y and seconda y sou ces.
P ima y da a we e ga he ed h ough in e iews wi h ele an in o man s, including
poli ical analys s, local poli icians, echnoscience expe s, and communi y leade s.
These in e iews p o ided i s hand accoun s and insigh s in o he p ac ices and
impac s o money poli ics and he in luence o echnology in egional elec ions.
Seconda y da a we e ob ained om a comp ehensi e e iew o exis ing li e a u e,
including books, academic jou nals, and a icles ha discuss democ acy, poli ical
unding, money poli ics, and he ole o echnoscience in elec ions (Le i e al., 2018;
Ha adhan, 2018).
The esea ch was conduc ed in Cen al Ja a P o ince, a egion known o i s
ib an poli ical landscape and ecu en issues wi h money poli ics. This loca ion
was chosen o p o ide a ep esen a i e case s udy o he b oade challenges acing
democ a ic p ocesses in Indonesia. Da a analysis ollowed an in e ac i e p ocess ha
con inued un il sa u a ion was achie ed, ensu ing a ho ough unde s anding o he
phenomenon unde s udy. The s eps in da a analysis included da a educ ion, da a
p esen a ion, and conclusion d awing/ e i ica ion (Le i e al., 2018).
The p ocess o da a collec ion and analysis in ol ed se e al key ac i i ies. Fi s ,
da a we e w i en, edi ed, and classi ied acco ding o ele an hemes ela ed o
money poli ics, echnoscience, and democ acy. Nex , he da a we e educed o ocus
on he mos signi ican indings, which we e hen p esen ed in a cohe en na a i e.
The ole o echnoscience, pa icula ly digi al pla o ms and in o ma ion
echnologies, was analyzed in e ms o bo h i s po en ial o enhance elec o al
anspa ency and i s suscep ibili y o misuse o pe pe ua ing money poli ics. Finally,
conclusions we e d awn and e i ied h ough c oss-checking wi h in e iewees and
iangula ing wi h seconda y sou ces. This app oach ensu ed ha he indings we e
obus and eliable, p o iding a comp ehensi e unde s anding o how money poli ics
and echnoscience in e ac o a ec democ a ic in eg i y, pa icula ly in he con ex
o elec ion unding in he pos - u h e a.
4. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
1. Democ acy, elec o al and money poli ics in Indonesia
Regional head elec ions, known locally as pilkada, se e as a c ucial
mechanism o ealizing di ec democ acy a he egional le el in Indonesia.
These di ec local elec ions a e a signi ican aspec o he implemen a ion o local
au onomy, ensu ing ha leade ship a he local le el is closely aligned wi h he
aspi a ions and needs o he communi y (Pu waningsih & Widodo, 2021).
Th ough pilkada, ci izens ha e he oppo uni y o di ec ly elec leade s who will
ha e a subs an ial impac on hei daily li es, wel a e, and o e all communi y
Si i Fa imah e al.
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bene i s. This p ocess ideally suppo s a go e nance model ha is esponsi e and
accoun able o he people’s needs and expec a ions.
Howe e , a signi ican conce n ha a ises in he con ex o egional head
elec ions is he pe asi e p ac ice o money poli ics. This p ac ice undamen ally
unde mines o e objec i i y and he in eg i y o he elec o al p ocess. Ins ead o
elec ing he mos quali ied leade s based on hei capabili ies and policy
p oposals, he elec o al ou comes a e o en skewed in a o o hose candida es
who ha e he inancial esou ces o spend he mos money on buying o es. As a
esul , he elec ed leade s a e equen ly hose who in es subs an ial amoun s o
money o secu e o es, a he han hose who a e bes quali ied o se e and
go e n e ec i ely. Money poli ics leads o i a ional o e beha io , whe eby
o e s become p agma ic and end o suppo candida es who o e immedia e
inancial o ma e ial incen i es such as money, goods, o o he bene i s (Da ies,
2021; Gonscho ek, 2021; Sep iadi e al., 2021). This p ac ice signi ican ly
diminishes he quali y o democ acy, as i c ea es a scena io whe e inancial
powe akes p ecedence o e me i and quali ica ions.
The p ac ice o money poli ics is ypically d i en by se e al ac o s,
including he mu ual bene i s pe cei ed by bo h o e s and candida es, public
apa hy owa ds poli ical p ocesses, and declining wel a e le els ha make
indi iduals mo e suscep ible o inancial incen i es. Vo e s, especially hose
acing economic ha dships, migh iew money o ma e ial goods o e ed by
candida es as immedia e elie om hei inancial s uggles. Candida es, on he
o he hand, see money poli ics as an e ec i e s a egy o secu e o es quickly and
e icien ly, especially in egions whe e economic dispa i ies a e signi ican .
The cul u al en enchmen o money poli ics in he elec o al p ocess di ec ly
unde mines co e democ a ic alues. Many egional elec ions in Indonesia a e
plagued by allega ions and ins ances o money poli ics (Siahaan & Tampubolon,
2021). Fo example, he Cen al Ja a Elec ion Supe iso y Agency (Bawaslu)
iden i ied 23 cases o alleged money poli ics du ing he 2020 simul aneous
egional elec ions. These iola ions we e epo ed om he "quie pe iod" leading
up o he o ing day, indica ing he widesp ead and sys ema ic na u e o he
p oblem. Acco ding o Indonesia Co up ion Wa ch (ICW), money poli ics
equen ly occu s igh be o e o on o ing day, a p ac ice commonly e e ed o
as "se angan aja " o "dawn a acks".
Typically, candida es do no di ec ly engage in he dis ibu ion o money o
goods; ins ead, in luen ial public igu es wi hin ce ain a eas ac as in e media ies.
These in e media ies dis ibu e unds based on hei in ima e knowledge o o e
beha io and p e e ences. This p ac ice is pa icula ly e ec i e in a ge ing loyal
o e s and hose in inancial need, such as he poo and s uden s wi hou egula
income. By le e aging he in luence o hese in e media ies, candida es can
e icien ly sp ead hei esou ces o maximize elec o al suppo wi hou di ec ly
a nishing hei public image. Resea ch indica es ha he accep ance o money
The In e sec ion o Technology, Money Poli ics, and Democ acy in Indonesia
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and goods by o e s is o en mo i a ed by declining ma ginal u ili y income. This
concep sugges s ha as income le els decline, he ela i e alue o addi ional
income o goods inc eases, making he poo mo e likely o accep inancial
incen i es om candida es. High po e y le els and weak go e nance a e closely
linked, c ea ing an en i onmen whe e money poli ics can h i e (Ja mika e al.,
2021). Fo many o e s, he money o goods o e ed by candida es ca y a ious
meanings. Fo some, i is pe cei ed as a demons a ion o he candida e’s
supe io i y and capabili y o lead. Fo o he s, i is seen as a o m o epaymen o
compensa ion o hei suppo . In some cases, i is iewed as a necessa y ac by
he candida e o secu e hei posi ion and ul ill hei obliga ions o hei
suppo e s.
Howe e , he pe cep ion o money poli ics can a y signi ican ly be ween
in o med and unin o med o e s. In o med o e s, who a e mo e awa e o he
e hical and legal implica ions o such p ac ices, may iew candida es who engage
in money poli ics as co up and unp epa ed o lead e ec i ely. They migh see
hese ac s as indica i e o a candida e’s lack o genuine commi men o public
se ice and good go e nance. Con e sely, unin o med communi ies migh
in e p e he gi s and money as a sign o goodwill o e en as a igh ul
en i lemen . Fo hese o e s, he accep ance o such gi s does no necessa ily
imply suppo o co up p ac ices, bu a he a p agma ic app oach o immedia e
economic elie .
The complexi y o money poli ics and i s deep en enchmen a a ious
le els o he elec o al p ocess— om candida es o in e media ies o o e s—
makes i challenging o mi iga e i s impac on elec ion ou comes. This complexi y
is u he exace ba ed by he a ious socioeconomic ac o s ha d i e indi iduals
o pa icipa e in and pe pe ua e money poli ics. E o s o in luence o change
o e beha io in his con ex mus add ess he unde lying economic dispa i ies
and go e nance issues ha make money poli ics an a ac i e op ion o bo h
candida es and o e s.
2. Technological In luence on Elec ion
Digi al pla o ms play a signi ican ole in acili a ing poli ical unding, bu
hey also in oduce a ious isks such as anonymous dona ions. These pla o ms
make i easie o candida es o ecei e inancial suppo wi hou adequa e
anspa ency, which can subsequen ly lead o un egula ed and po en ially illegal
con ibu ions (Teno e, 2018). The anonymi y p o ided by online dona ions poses
signi ican challenges o he moni o ing and egula ion o poli ical unding, as i
obscu es he sou ces o inancial con ibu ions and allows o he in lux o
un aceable money in o elec o al campaigns. This lack o anspa ency
unde mines he in eg i y o he elec o al p ocess and makes i di icul o ensu e
ha all con ibu ions a e law ul and e hical.
Si i Fa imah e al.
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The ole o digi al pla o ms in poli ical unding canno be o e s a ed. These
pla o ms p o ide a con enien and e icien means o candida es o solici and
ecei e dona ions om a wide ange o sou ces. Howe e , his con enience
comes a a cos . The anonymi y a o ded by online ansac ions makes i possible
o indi iduals and o ganiza ions o con ibu e la ge sums o money wi hou
disclosing hei iden i ies. This lack o accoun abili y can lead o a si ua ion whe e
illegal o une hical con ibu ions go unde ec ed, he eby comp omising he
ai ness o he elec o al p ocess.
Technological in e en ions in poli ical unding ace subs an ial
anspa ency and egula o y challenges. The ease o online ansac ions and he
global na u e o digi al pla o ms complica e he en o cemen o local elec ion
laws. Fo ins ance, egula ions may s uggle o keep pace wi h he inno a i e
me hods used o und aising and expendi u e. The apid e olu ion o digi al
echnologies means ha new me hods o und aising and spending a e cons an ly
eme ging, making i di icul o egula o s o s ay ahead o he cu e. E ec i e
o e sigh mechanisms a e c ucial o ensu ing anspa ency in poli ical unding.
Howe e , cu en egula o y amewo ks o en lack he necessa y p o isions o
add ess he complexi ies in oduced by digi al echnologies
One o he key challenges in egula ing digi al poli ical unding is he c oss-
bo de na u e o online ansac ions. Dona ions can come om anywhe e in he
wo ld, making i di icul o local au ho i ies o ack and e i y he sou ces o
hese unds. This global dimension adds ano he laye o complexi y o he ask
o ensu ing ha all con ibu ions a e legal and anspa en . Mo eo e , he speed a
which online ansac ions can be conduc ed makes i challenging o egula o s o
moni o and espond o suspicious ac i i ies in eal- ime.
The sp ead o ake news and misin o ma ion is ano he c i ical issue ha is
exace ba ed by echnology. Digi al pla o ms enable he apid dissemina ion o
alse in o ma ion, which can signi ican ly in luence o e beha io .
Misin o ma ion campaigns o en aim o manipula e public pe cep ion and o ing
decisions by sp eading misleading o alse na a i es abou candida es o poli ical
issues (Guess & Lyons, 2020). Such p ac ices no only dis o he democ a ic
p ocess bu also unde mine he c edibili y o elec ions and elec ed o icials. The
abili y o sp ead alse in o ma ion quickly and widely means ha e en baseless
umo s can ha e a subs an ial impac on public opinion and o e beha io .
Misin o ma ion is a powe ul ool in he hands o hose who seek o in luence
elec ions h ough unsc upulous means. By sp eading alse o misleading
in o ma ion, hese ac o s can c ea e con usion and unce ain y among o e s,
making i di icul o hem o make in o med decisions. The anonymi y and each
o digi al pla o ms make i easy o launch misin o ma ion campaigns wi hou ea
o epe cussions. This anonymi y also makes i challenging o au ho i ies o
iden i y and hold accoun able hose esponsible o sp eading alse in o ma ion.
The In e sec ion o Technology, Money Poli ics, and Democ acy in Indonesia
SOCIOLOGÍA Y TECNOCIENCIA, 15.1 (2025): 202-222
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unde s anding o o e beha io and digi al ools o dis ibu e unds and sway public
opinion, ul ima ely skewing elec ion esul s in a o o inancially powe ul
candida es.
Regula o y bodies like he Cen al Ja a Elec ion Supe iso y Agency (Bawaslu)
ha e iden i ied nume ous ins ances o money poli ics acili a ed by echnology,
highligh ing he u gen need o obus o e sigh mechanisms. While echnology can
aid in de ec ing and in es iga ing elec o al malp ac ices, i also necessi a es he
con inuous adap a ion o egula o y amewo ks o add ess new challenges posed by
digi al ad ancemen s. Ensu ing anspa ency and accoun abili y in poli ical unding
equi es a conce ed e o om all s akeholde s, including ci il socie y
o ganiza ions, educa ional ins i u ions, and policymake s.
In conclusion, his s udy unde sco es he necessi y o a balanced app oach ha
le e ages he posi i e aspec s o echnology while mi iga ing i s po en ial o misuse.
Enhancing digi al li e acy among o e s, implemen ing s ic e egula ions on
poli ical unding, and p omo ing e hical s anda ds in elec ions a e c ucial s eps
owa ds s eng hening democ a ic in eg i y. By add essing he complexi ies o
money poli ics and echnology, Indonesia can ad ance owa ds a mo e anspa en ,
accoun able, and esilien elec o al sys em.
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