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The Indonesian government is taking a hard stance against online gambling, with Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Viada Hafid reaffirming the country's commitment to eradicating the practice.
Speaking at an event in Jakarta, Hafid outlined the ministry's efforts to block illegal content using artificial intelligence (AI) and task force collaboration. Over five million pieces of online casino material have been removed by the government since 2017.
Blocking online gambling content
The government have blocked public access to a vast number of content items hosted on popular sites including Meta, Google, and Twitter, along with unauthorised internet protocols. Budi Arie Setiadi, Minister of Communication and Informatics from July 2023 until October 2024, said that "gambling is an illegal act based on regulations."
To prevent online gambling, the task force established in June 2024 is cooperating with other government entities to scrutinise and investigate potentially illicit financial dealings. Financial institutions were encouraged by Hafid to join forces and help curb the issue of online gaming. She urged those still involved in financial transactions supporting online gambling to work together in monitoring and putting a stop to this problem.
Google Ads is a willing collaborator in the effort to curtail online gambling in Indonesia. The updated Google Ads policy for 2024 is supportive of local restrictions and works hand in hand with the government in implementing required clearances and verification. According to Hafid, within the short period between 20 October and 18 November 2024, official statistics show that they have restricted access to 2.7k of Google and YouTube ads.
Journalism: raising awareness and influencing policy
Formerly a journalist before being in government, Hafid believes that journalism plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the issue and influencing policy. The Komdigi Journalism Awards Summit recognised and honoured outstanding projects that effectively brought attention to the far-reaching societal consequences of online gambling in order for them to notify the public of this problem.
The Indonesian government claim that, in 2024 alone, around 8.8 million citizens have been involved in online gambling. What's more disturbing is that about 80 per cent of the figure are from lower-income communities, making it a grave national concern.
