Indonesia Blocks Another 43,000 Online Gambling Ads
Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry has blocked over 43,000 gambling-related digital items in the first week of 2025 as part of its ongoing campaign to combat illegal online gambling.
Major Enforcement Action in 2025
In the first six days of 2025, the Komdigi Ministry blocked 43,063 digital items, including websites and social media accounts, linked to online gambling. This effort aligns with the government’s broader strategy to curb illegal gambling activities, which remain prohibited in Indonesia.
Between October 2024 and January 2025, the ministry’s enforcement operations led to the removal of 711,522 items across various platforms. These included 652,147 websites and IP addresses, 29,964 items on Meta platforms, 17,836 on file-sharing sites, and thousands more on Google, YouTube, Telegram, TikTok, and X.
Government’s Objectives
The initiative is driven by President Prabowo Subianto and Communication Minister Meutya Hafid’s focus on protecting young people from harmful digital content, including online gambling. Acting Director General of Public Communication and Media, Molly Prabawaty, highlighted that platforms like Instagram, which promote gambling through large follower bases, are a particular target.
Officials stress the importance of community involvement, especially parents’ vigilance over children’s online activities, in combating online gambling. To facilitate public engagement, the government has introduced multiple reporting channels, including a dedicated website, WhatsApp number, and an anti-gambling chatbot.
