Indonesia Removes Millions of Illegal Online Gambling Items
Indonesia Intensifies Efforts to Combat Illegal Online Gambling
Indonesia has stepped up its fight against illegal online gambling by removing millions of related digital items from the internet. The government’s primary goal is to protect the public from harmful content without infringing on freedom of expression.
Millions of Harmful Online Contents Eliminated
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs of Indonesia has announced the removal of approximately 2.8 million pieces of harmful online content between October 20, 2024, and September 16, 2025. Remarkably, about 2.1 million of these items were connected to illegal online gambling.
Alexander Sabar, the director general of digital space monitoring at the ministry, shared further insights on the content removed, which included:
- 1,932,131 items from websites
- 97,779 files from file-sharing platforms
- 94,004 posts from Meta applications
- 35,093 items from Google services
- 17,417 pieces from X (formerly Twitter)
- 1,742 from Telegram channels
- 1,001 posts on TikTok
- 14 pieces from Line app
- 3 items from various app stores
Sabar highlighted that these vast numbers demonstrate the significant challenges Indonesia faces in combating digital threats.
Encouraging Public Participation and Strengthening Digital Safety
The government emphasized that the content removals aim to safeguard Indonesians from harmful digital influences while respecting their right to free expression. Authorities urge citizens to actively report any harmful online content they encounter.
Additionally, Indonesia is advancing its protective measures by testing the Content Moderation Compliance System (SAMAN). This innovative tool aims to automate parts of the content monitoring process and enhance the country’s effectiveness in managing negative online material. The trial phase for SAMAN is expected to conclude in October.
Significant Seizures and Bank Account Suspensions Related to Illegal Gambling
Aside from content removal, Indonesia recently confiscated approximately $9.5 million linked to illegal gambling operations as part of a large-scale crackdown on illicit gaming activities. This move follows the Financial Services Authority’s earlier decision to suspend 26,000 bank accounts suspected of connections to gambling networks.
