Indonesia’s National Police (Polri) unveiled a fleet of over 20 robots—ranging from humanoid figures and robotic canines to drones and tanks—during the 79th Bhayangkara Day celebrations this week in Jakarta, in what the force called a strategic step into high-tech law enforcement.
Publicized as part of Polri’s 2025–2045 roadmap, the robotic rollout includes the humanoid “Ropi” (short for robot pintar or “smart robot”) and four-legged “I-K9” units designed for search and rescue, bomb detection, and even crowd dispersal via ultrasonic sound. Officers said operational budgets would begin rolling out in 2026.
Yet the fanfare was swiftly met with pointed criticism from legal advocates and transparency watchdogs who questioned the urgency, cost, and public accountability of the project in a country where police violence and trust deficits remain persistent concerns.
“Inspired by China and Dubai”
Police spokesperson Inspector General Sandi Nugroho said the idea draws from global trends, citing Thailand’s humanoid patrol bots, China’s robotic units, and Singapore’s deployment of cyborg cockroaches for search-and-rescue operations.
“Dubai is already using robots to assist with police duties,” Sandi said on 30 June.
“Singapore has developed cyborg cockroaches. These technologies are already in use.”
Polri’s own humanoid robots will reportedly conduct facial recognition scans in public spaces and monitor traffic violations. They will be designed with 360-degree field vision and dynamic mobility, enabling officers to deploy them in high-risk operations.
But while Sandi described public reception to the robot showcase as “beyond expectations,” officials also acknowledged that Indonesian society remains largely unfamiliar with law enforcement robots.
Legal Experts: “No Strategic Documents Found”
Anti-corruption watchdog Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and legal advocacy groups said the introduction of the robot project raises red flags on multiple fronts.
ICW researcher Wana Alamsyah told BBC News Indonesia there was no mention of the project in Polri’s publicly accessible procurement records. “We’ve found no information in the General Procurement Planning System that indicates robot acquisition was ever planned,” Wana said.
Without published strategy documents, Wana questioned how Polri could justify its partnerships—particularly with tech firm PT Sari Teknologi and quadruped robot developer Ezra Robotics—without a formal public tender.
“If these robots are to be purchased for 2026, then there must be a competitive auction process,” he said.
Costs Outweigh Infrastructure Needs
Estimates suggest each humanoid robot could cost more than Rp250 million (around US$16.000), while Ezra’s I-K9 robotic dog may reach nearly Rp3 billion—about the same as building three police housing units in North Sulawesi.
For comparison, the maintenance budget for a Brimob vehicle at the Bengkulu regional police office was just Rp200 million. Renovation costs for a Bhayangkara Hospital building in Blora, Central Java, were Rp89 million.
Despite a trimmed 2025 budget of Rp106 trillion, Polri has allocated over Rp34 trillion to goods procurement. In 2024, this included spending on counterterrorism, narcotics operations, and security at the new capital in East Kalimantan.
“We Don’t Need Robots—We Need Justice”
The robot rollout comes amid mounting concerns over police violence and accountability. The Commission for Disappeared Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) reported 602 instances of police violence across Indonesia in 2025 alone. Of 1.085 victims, 42 died.
“Polri must shift its focus to core duties like law enforcement and victim services,” said Julius Ibrani, chair of the Indonesian Legal Aid Association (PBHI).
Julius said that while public complaints pile up in police stations, many are ignored unless amplified by viral outrage on social media. “This is where the #PercumaLaporPolisi [‘reporting to police is pointless’] sentiment stems from,” he said. “The problem is not technological—it’s institutional.”
He argued that the state’s resources would be better spent targeting digital crimes like online gambling and fraud, rather than showcasing robots. “Technology should support urgent cases—not stage performances,” he said.
“Tony Stark from Cengkareng”
PT Sari Teknologi, one of the primary collaborators behind the robots, was founded in 2006 by Yohanes Kurnia, a figure sometimes dubbed “Tony Stark from Cengkareng.” The company has built robotic parking systems, disinfection devices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Ropi, a customer-service humanoid designed for retail environments.
Yohanes says the goal is to reduce Indonesia’s reliance on imported robots. “We want Indonesian kids to make their own robots, not just be end users,” he told the press.
Yet he admitted that the current prototypes still need “thousands of hours of testing and algorithm refinement” before they’re operationally ready.
Privacy, Power, and the Lack of Regulation
Global researchers have also sounded alarms over the unchecked rise of policing robots. A recent report titled Regulating Police Robots (2025) warned that such machines—especially when equipped with facial recognition, GPS, and AI—could supercharge surveillance while eroding civil liberties.
“Robot deployment in law enforcement opens the door to privacy violations, misuse of data, and ethical dilemmas,” the report stated.
Indonesia currently lacks regulations governing robotic use in law enforcement, raising concerns that these machines could be misused without oversight or consequences.
PoliceTube and Public Distrust
Alongside the robot rollout, Polri has also launched PoliceTube, a video platform aimed at broadcasting internal updates, press conferences, and case developments.
But Julius Ibrani of PBHI questioned the relevance of such digital upgrades when basic legal processes remain neglected.
“The public wants protection, not performance,” he said.
“Without fixing the root problems—impunity, violence, and abuse of power—no amount of robots or livestreams will rebuild trust.”
Past Abuse, Persistent Doubts
Polri’s record continues to cast a long shadow. In 2024, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) received more complaints against the police than any other institution. Amnesty International Indonesia reported systemic impunity within the force, allowing rights abuses to persist without consequence.
From illegal detention and torture to fatal shootings and sexual violence, the police force has faced years of allegations without deep structural reform.
“The rollout of expensive technology may look futuristic,” Julius said, “but it is detached from the urgent and human realities facing Indonesia’s criminal justice system.”
