Indonesia Blocks Over 5.7 Million Online Gambling Content Entries, Social Media Platform X Tops Violations
JAKARTA, investortrust.id—Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital reported blocking 5,707,952 instances of online gambling content as of January 21, 2025, with social media platform X, formerly Twitter, accounting for the highest number of violations.
The findings were disclosed during a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, with lawmakers from the House of Representatives Commission I’s Online Gambling Task Force. Alexander Sabar, the director general of digital space oversight at the communication ministry, stated that the ministry has tackled millions of gambling-related posts, links, and advertisements since 2017, targeting websites and apps.
“Platform X alone recorded 1,429,063 instances of gambling content between 2016 and January 2025,” Sabar noted, underscoring its role as the largest violator. Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, followed with 735,503 cases, while file-sharing platforms contributed 168,699 instances.
Sabar, a former official at Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN), emphasized the ministry’s intensified efforts, including a 113-member content control team operating in three shifts to monitor and remove illegal content 24/7. The team also handles public complaints, corporate grievances, hoax debunking, and reports linked to suspicious bank accounts tied to gambling operations.
The crackdown aligns with Indonesia’s strict anti-gambling laws, which carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison for operators and fines for participants. Despite the bans, online gambling remains pervasive, driven by encrypted platforms and cryptocurrency transactions.
“Our digital oversight mechanisms are evolving to match the sophistication of these illegal networks,” Sabar added, though he acknowledged persistent challenges in tracking decentralized operations.
The hearing comes amid rising concerns over gambling’s societal impact, including debt crises and fraud. Lawmakers urged stricter collaboration between Kemenkomdigi, financial regulators, and tech firms to dismantle payment channels and advertising networks fueling the industry.