Team of 150 specialists continue to block online gambling platforms in Indonesia

The Communication and Informatics Ministry (Kominfo) of Indonesia’s Deputy Minister Nezar Patria said that a dedicated team of 150 professionals is working nonstop to identify and prohibit online gambling sites that cater to players in Southeast Asia.

Working from the ministry’s headquarters, this team employs cutting-edge methods including web crawler software and artificial intelligence.

In an effort to protect Indonesia’s digital integrity, the ministry has essentially banned some 1.5 million websites that provide online gambling content since July 2022.

In order to get rid of harmful digital content—especially materials related to online gambling—Patria underlined the need of collaborating with suppliers of digital platforms like Meta and X. The government takes appropriate action in the case of persistent content and has already reprimanded Meta and X for what seems to be a lack of control.

Kominfo collaborates with Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) to impose restrictions on associated bank accounts in order to interfere with the financial operations of online gaming operators. Additionally, collaboration with the National Police (Polri) facilitates the identification and apprehension of those engaged in online gaming activities.

Patria underlined the global nature of the online gaming industry and said that many creators are based abroad, particularly in Myanmar and Cambodia. These developers often employ Indonesian nationals to run gambling sites despite their foreign location, abusing their skills for illicit gain.

Patria concluded by restating the Indonesian government’s resolve to stop online gambling and emphasizing the ongoing efforts to safeguard the nation’s digital ecosystem and shield its citizens from the harmful effects of illegal gaming.

Original story by: Asia Gaming Brief