GOV’T UNAWARE OF DOMAIN PROMOTING GAMBLING, PORN

Local authorities have stated that they had not been aware of the operations of a website that uses a top-level domain (TLD) address that resembles a government website which promotes illegal gambling and live-streams pornography.

The website uses the TLD macaugov.com, an address that clearly aims to resemble the official Macau government website (gov.mo).

In a reply to an inquiry from the Times, the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT) which handles local internet communications and related topics said, “CTT isn’t aware of the existence and operation of this website,” adding also that since it is a (.com) domain it falls outside the jurisdiction of local authorities.

“The operator of (.com) domain registry is designated by the international organization, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers),” CTT said, noting their inability to take action over the issue.

According to research done by the Times, the website domain was registered for the first time back on November 28, 2021.

The website displays flashy information in simplified Chinese language, using names and logos of well-known local casinos such as The Venetian Macao or Grand Lisboa, providing links only to external websites.

In the past, both the Monetary Authority of Macau and the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) have warned the public about the existence of these fraudulent websites that advertise online gaming by using local casinos’ names as bait.

Source: https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/govt-unaware-of-domain-promoting-gambling-porn.html