The Indonesian government is collaborating with telecommunications firms to combat illicit gambling operations.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Information is partnering with telecom providers to restrict access to gambling-related material.
The Indonesian government is taking a firm stance against illegal gambling activities.
According to Article 303 of the nation’s Criminal Code, Indonesia forbids both traditional and online gambling, with violators facing potential imprisonment of up to four years.
To eradicate illegal online gaming, the government aims to prevent consumers, social media personalities, and partners from promoting online gambling content.
Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie stated that illicit providers are devising novel methods to target players within the country, necessitating the implementation of new blocking strategies.
“Beyond utilizing influencers, the recent widespread dissemination of online gambling content is also occurring through SMS and WhatsApp spamming,” he clarified.
Consequently, the government will cooperate with telecom operators to identify and block such messages.
International Influence
Director General of Information Applications Samuel A. Pangerapan indicated that the ministry suspects the majority of gambling advertisements originate from foreign jurisdictions.
“However, upon entry into Indonesia, the government will terminate access,” he affirmed.
The Indonesian administration has vowed to prohibit websites and social media posts linked to gambling within a day of their identification.
“Public reports are a crucial aid for the government to eliminate online gambling. They can be processed within a day at most. It could be two hours, or it could be three hours,” he stated.
Pangerapan added that over 5,000 gambling websites have been barred so far.
**Agency Blocks Gambling Material**
Between 2018 and 2023, the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information blocked 846,047 gambling-related materials.
The ministry will continue to monitor gambling content online. Arie added that the department will continue to cooperate with law enforcement to limit its spread.
The minister also urged the public to report online gambling content to the ministry.
**Penalties Threat Against Social Media Companies**
The minister also promised to have social media platforms remove gambling-related content. “If the platforms refuse to delete it, they will be penalized according to the law.”
The department has also received notifications about bank accounts used for online gambling.
“From January to July 17, 2023, the Ministry of Communication and Information received 1,859 complaints about the use of bank accounts for online gambling activities,” Arie said.
“This figure is part of the 1,914 complaints received by the Ministry of Communication and Information as of 2023.”
Become part of the interactive gaming world and receive the most recent news and information!