Luhut calls for stronger cybersecurity talent as AI threats rise

..cybersecurity is vital to national security because it directly involves protecting citizens and safeguarding national sovereignty.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has called for strengthening Indonesia's cybersecurity talent to combat rising digital threats driven by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI).

“Cybersecurity threats are escalating, while artificial intelligence technology continues to evolve rapidly. We need to focus on developing human resources with cybersecurity capabilities,” Luhut said in an official statement received in Jakarta on Friday.

Luhut, who is also the founder of Del Institute of Technology (IT Del), stated that developing cybersecurity skills must go hand in hand with mastering AI so that the younger generation is equipped to navigate emerging technological trends.

This urgency is highlighted by data from the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN), which recorded 1.52 billion cyberattacks in Indonesia between January 1 and April 15, 2026.

Meanwhile, the number of cyberattacks in 2025 reached 5.5 billion, marking a 714-percent increase from the annual average recorded between 2020 and 2024.

Luhut added that hosting skills competitions was one effective approach to developing and strengthening Indonesia's cybersecurity talent.

In this regard, IT Del and cybersecurity company Spentera Group hosted the final round of the Hacktrace Independence Day Competition (HIDC) 2026 cybersecurity contest in Balige, North Sumatra, on Thursday (September 24), while strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.

On the occasion, the two institutions signed an agreement covering research, innovation, and internship programs to align higher education skills development with the needs of the cybersecurity sector.

Spentera Group Co-Founder and Owner Royke Lumban Tobing emphasized that rising cyber threats must be matched by accelerated training of skilled professionals who understand cybersecurity ethics.

"We need far more ethical cybersecurity experts. The gap between demand and available talent remains far too wide," Royke said.

He added that cybersecurity is vital to national security because it directly involves protecting citizens and safeguarding national sovereignty.

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Translator: Aria Ananda, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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