Indonesian police face flak for robot parade, told to focus on reforms
The display, held in front of President Prabowo Subianto, featured 25 robotic devices. According to police spokesman Inspector General Sandi Nugroho, the robots were introduced as part of efforts to follow global policing trends.
'The police are an institution that adapts to change,' Sandi said in a June 30 statement in the SCMP. 'By 2030, police in several countries will use robots. We are also learning from other countries.'
The robots made by Chinese firms Unitree Robotics and Deep Robotics cost between $2,700 and $16,000 each. They are designed for search and rescue, bomb disposal, traffic monitoring, and forensic work. The robodogs are also expected to support police K9 teams in detecting drugs and other materials.
Sandi said the police also launched a video-sharing platform called PoliceTube to broadcast police activity and allow the public to 'monitor in real time' how officers are working across the country.
However, the robot parade and platform launch have sparked mixed reactions. Critics say the police should focus on bigger issues, such as public service and accountability.
Bambang Rukminto, a police analyst from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies, told SCMP: 'The public needs protection and police services more than new technology. The benefits of these robots are not yet clear, and they are expensive.'
On social media, one user asked: 'Can these robots detect bribery, extortion, or violence involving officers?' Others questioned whether the money spent on technology could have been used more effectively elsewhere.
Transparency International Indonesia (TII) also raised concerns about transparency in procurement. 'This large-scale purchase may not follow the proper rules, since there has been little information about any long-term robot plan,' TII said on X.
In response to the criticism, national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo told lawmakers that the robots were still being tested and had not cost the police anything for the parade.
Even so, the police have requested an additional 63.7 trillion rupiah (around $3.9 billion) for next year's budget. No specific details were provided on future robot spending.
The Civil Society Coalition for Police Reform said the use of robots and launch of PoliceTube do not address deeper problems within the police force. The group said in a statement: 'What the police need is real reform in culture, systems and structure not just tools.'
According to rights group Kontras, there were over 3,000 cases of police violence between 2020 and July 2025, including arbitrary arrests, shootings, and excessive force at protests. A 2020 report by TII also said 41 per cent of respondents who dealt with the police admitted to giving bribes for the first time during those interactions.
Bambang added that reform cannot happen unless police change their attitude. 'They often act like they are above society,' he said. 'As long as they don't see themselves as part of the people, they won't understand the real issues.'
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