Jakarta (ANTARA) – Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid has reaffirmed the Indonesian government’s commitment to blocking online gambling content, aiming to curb the reach of transnational syndicates targeting Indonesians.
Between October 20, 2024, and September 28, 2026, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs blocked 4.1 million items of online gambling content to safeguard Indonesia’s digital space.
“Whenever we take down these sites, new ones pop up. We take those down, and more appear. This means we must join forces to bring these numbers down,” Meutya said during a talk show in Jakarta on Thursday.
At the event, which also launched an online gambling awareness initiative, it was revealed that during the first two years of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, websites and IP addresses accounted for the majority of blocked online gambling content, totaling 3.6 million items.
The minister added that findings show most of the identified IP addresses were based overseas.
According to her, the relentless cycle of blocking one site only for a thousand more to appear proves online gambling is not just a regulatory violation, but a form of transnational organized crime.
To counter this, the government is stepping up coordination with law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders to target not just the content, but the operators behind these activities.
Taking down content must go hand in hand with enforcing the law against the kingpins and syndicates running these operations, Meutya emphasized, noting that without going after the perpetrators, new sites or channels will keep surfacing to promote gambling.
On that occasion, Meutya also underscored that the government will continue to urge digital platforms and digital service providers to strengthen detection, prevention, and content handling systems.
To support detection efforts, the public is encouraged to act as digital space monitors as online gambling content constantly evolves, shifts locations, and targets citizens.
The minister warned that online gambling can affect anyone, regardless of age or social status. In response, the government will continue to strengthen digital literacy and education while closing loopholes exploited by perpetrators to reach the public.
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Translator: Livia Kristianti, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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