Since Pabrowo Subianto became president, Indonesia has stepped up its attempts to stop internet gambling, which is heavily frowned upon in the largely Muslim nation. This unprecedented crackdown is a reflection of the government’s resolve to enforce the law and shield its people from unlawful activity.
Revamped Ministry Takes Action
Under Subianto’s administration, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics has been rebranded as the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs. Meutya Hafid, the newly appointed head, wasted no time in setting clear priorities. Hafid unveiled a 100-day agenda focused on four key goals: enhancing personal data protection, digitizing government services, fostering a child-friendly internet, and eradicating online gambling.
The ministry has turned to advanced technology to tackle illegal gambling content. Hafid confirmed the use of artificial intelligence to detect and block such material effectively. She stated, “If we count from October 20, the number of closed sites has reached around 380,000.” This figure includes 300,000 illegal IP addresses and numerous ads on platforms like Meta, Google, and Twitter.
To bolster its efforts, the government has also deployed special cyber-patrols tasked with identifying gambling-related websites and applications.
The crackdown affects financial systems in addition to online platforms. The deputy governor of Bank Indonesia, Juda Agung, underlined the significance of fraud identification in reducing internet gaming. According to him, payment service providers—banks and non-banks alike—need to put in place reliable methods to detect accounts that are used for gambling transactions.
These coordinated initiatives demonstrate Indonesia’s multifaceted strategy for combating illicit online gambling. The government wants to make the internet a safer place for its people by utilizing technology and implementing stronger rules in all areas.
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