Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has continued to take preventive measures to eradicate online gambling in society.
“For example, we have launched an SMS appeal. Other measures include approaching community figures,” Usman Kansong, the ministry’s director general of information and public communication, said on Tuesday.
He explained that, as part of the task force on the eradication of online gambling, the ministry is constantly disseminating information on the dangers of online gambling to the public. The ministry is also discussing online gambling prevention programs with school administrators this week.
Last week, Kansong said, the task force brought together interfaith figures to urge them to incorporate online gambling prevention stories into their sermons or speeches.
He added that the ministry needs the support of the National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) to echo the anti-online gaming rhetoric.
Regional governments have also been urged to take part in the cause by putting up banners with anti-online gambling messages, Kansong said.
Regarding the measures taken in the digital space, he stressed that the ministry has disseminated content on online gambling prevention on social networks and created a dedicated website, Bersama Stop Judi Online (s.id/bersamastopjudol).
The ministry continued to restrict access to sites that distribute online gambling content. It removed nearly 3 million pieces of online gambling content as of June 13.
The ministry also asked Bank Indonesia to block 555 e-wallet accounts linked to online gambling activities and urged the Financial Services Authority (OJK) to freeze 5,779 similar bank accounts starting May 28.
In addition, the ministry processed 16,596 gambling page insertions on educational sites and 18,974 gambling page insertions on government sites from July 17, 2023 to June 13.
Kansong said the government had sent warning letters to X, Telegram, Google, Meta and TikTok following the discovery of online gambling content circulating on their platforms.
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