Konferensi Pers Pemberantasan Judi Online

Summary

The Indonesian government is intensifying efforts to combat online gambling following a tragic incident where a TNI officer committed suicide due to gambling-related debts. The Ministry of Communications and Information (Kominfo) has taken action by blocking gambling websites, shutting down related e-wallets and bank accounts, and collaborating with global platforms like Google and Meta. Stringent sanctions, including fines up to IDR 500 million per post, are being imposed on non-cooperative platforms and ISPs. The government is also urging media and the public to support education on the risks of online gambling while reinforcing technical measures.

Takeaways

• 😀 A recent case highlighted the suicide of a TNI officer allegedly due to online gambling debts, prompting government action on the issue.
• 😀 The President of Indonesia led a cabinet meeting on May 22, 2024, to discuss measures to combat online gambling, showing the issue’s national significance.
• 😀 A special task force (Satgas) has been formed to intensify efforts to eliminate online gambling in the country.
• 😀 The Ministry of Communications and Informatics (Kominfo) has implemented various actions to block online gambling content, such as shutting down 918 online gambling websites and blocking 555 e-wallets linked to gambling.
• 😀 Since September 2023, Kominfo has taken steps to block over 5,300 bank accounts linked to gambling and flagged 18,877 gambling-related pages on educational websites and 22,714 on government websites.
• 😀 Over 20,000 gambling-related keywords have been flagged to assist in content monitoring on platforms like Google and Meta.
• 😀 Strong warnings have been issued to digital platform operators like X, Telegram, Google, Meta, and TikTok, with a potential fine of up to 500 million IDR per gambling-related content if not removed.
• 😀 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that do not cooperate in eliminating online gambling face potential revocation of their licenses.
• 😀 The legal foundation for these actions includes laws and regulations such as the Information and Electronic Transactions Law, Government Regulation No. 43/2023, and Ministerial Regulations.
• 😀 Kominfo has implemented a positive trust database for blocking harmful content, with 35% of ISPs now synchronized to automatically block gambling sites, although some providers remain non-compliant.

Q & A

What incident triggered the Indonesian government's renewed focus on combating online gambling?

The renewed focus on combating online gambling was triggered by the suicide of a TNI officer who was allegedly burdened with debt due to online gambling. This tragedy highlighted the severe social impact of the issue.

What are the primary measures the Indonesian government has taken to combat online gambling?

The government has taken several measures, including blocking gambling-related content, working with financial institutions to close related accounts, and issuing legal warnings to digital platforms and internet service providers (ISPs). They also plan to impose fines of up to IDR 500 million per gambling-related content on platforms.

What specific actions were taken by Kominfo to block online gambling content?

Kominfo has blocked 918,520 gambling-related content since July 2023, worked with Bank Indonesia to close 555 gambling-related e-wallet accounts, and collaborated with the OJK to block 5,364 gambling-related bank accounts.

What legal basis supports the fines imposed on platforms hosting gambling content?

The fines are supported by the Information and Electronic Transactions Law (2008), Government Regulation No. 43/2023, the Ministry of Communication and Information Regulation No. 5/2020, and the Ministerial Decree No. 172/2024.

How does Kominfo monitor and enforce the blocking of gambling content?

Kominfo utilizes a database called 'Trust Positive,' which includes a blacklist of gambling domains and URLs. This system is shared with ISPs, which are required to block access to these sites. However, only 35% of ISPs have fully synchronized with this system.

What are the potential penalties for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that do not cooperate with the anti-gambling measures?

ISPs that fail to cooperate in blocking gambling-related content face the potential revocation of their operating licenses, a measure the government is prepared to implement under the relevant telecommunication laws.

What role do digital platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok play in the government's anti-gambling efforts?

The government has issued a warning to digital platforms such as X, Telegram, Google, Meta, and TikTok to cooperate in removing gambling content. If these platforms fail to comply, they will face fines of up to IDR 500 million per piece of gambling-related content.

What challenges does the Indonesian government face in eradicating online gambling?

One of the main challenges is the ongoing access to gambling content despite efforts to block it. Even after blocking specific sites, some ISPs still allow access to gambling sites, as evidenced by the 26 ISPs that were issued warnings in 2023 for failing to block such content.

What additional measures are being proposed to improve the blocking of online gambling content?

The government is pushing for automatic synchronization of gambling content updates across ISPs. They have also implemented strict monitoring and are issuing penalties for non-compliance. The aim is to ensure a comprehensive and efficient blocking system.

How does public education factor into Indonesia's strategy to combat online gambling?

Public education is seen as a crucial component of the strategy. The government emphasizes that alongside technical efforts, raising public awareness about the dangers of online gambling is essential to reducing its impact and ensuring long-term success in combating the issue.