Indonesia Launches Task Force to Combat Online Gambling
Indonesian government has announced the establishment of a dedicated task force. This new initiative, under the oversight of Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, aims to integrate efforts across various sectors to address this growing problem effectively.
Formation and Function of the Task Force
The task force is a collaborative effort involving multiple governmental bodies. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Kominfo), the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the Financial Transactions Report and Analysis Centre (PPATK), and the Indonesian police are all part of this strategic alliance.
This diverse team will tackle the complex challenges of online gambling, ranging from digital oversight to financial transactions.
Strategic Challenges and Operational Efforts
Kominfo’s recent investigations have unveiled that computer servers based in the Philippines and Cambodia have been targeting Indonesian bettors. Efforts by the OJK to restrict access to these foreign transaction accounts have faced significant hurdles. The task force’s comprehensive strategy will cover the oversight of the digital domain, management of financial accounts, monitoring of fund flows, and rigorous law enforcement actions.
Usman Kansong, Director of Information and Public Communication at Kominfo, outlines the division of responsibilities: “Kominfo will oversee the digital space, OJK will manage accounts, PPATK will handle fund flows, and the police will carry out arrest and investigation duties.”
The Impact on Indonesian Society
The task force’s formation comes in the wake of alarming statistics reported by the PPATK, indicating that nearly 3.2 million Indonesians participated in online gambling in 2023, with a significant portion of bets being relatively small in value.
Hadi Tjahjanto, Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law, and Security Affairs, expressed his concern, emphasizing the necessity of this task force in safeguarding vulnerable groups from the risks associated with online gambling.
