Isnaini Muallidin, Hadi Supratikta
ABSTRACT Digital governance in transitional democracies promises enhanced participation but often produces new forms of exclusion. This study examines the “technopolitical paradox” in post‐Reformasi Indonesia, where algorithmic systems expand engagement while reinforcing elite control. Introducing a novel framework of algorithmic legitimacy, participation facades, and technocratic inclusion, the research analyzes how digital technologies reshape political authority. Based on mixed‐methods data, policy analysis, 45 interviews, digital ethnography, and a survey ( n = 1247), the findings reveal that data‐driven claims obscure political choices, participatory platforms simulate engagement without influence, and technical requirements systematically marginalize non‐expert citizens. The study concludes that digital governance risks reproducing inequality behind a meritocratic facade, challenging democratic values in the digital age.