It's Been Blocked But Illegal Loan Content Is Still Spreading, Why?

JAKARTA - Currently, the Indonesian government together with various institutions and ministries, including the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) are intensively blocking online gambling content and online loans on social media.

Despite making various efforts, ranging from taking down content to blocking accounts used for online gambling and borrowing, the content is still widely distributed in cyberspace.

According to the Director General of Information and Public Communication of Kominfo, Usman Kansong, the handling of this case is not enough to just take down content, but must use many other methods as well.

"This handling must be comprehensive, it is not enough just to take down. But there must be other formulas. Yes, for example, OJK, this is what gives permission for financial technology or fintech. Yes, so far we have been working with OJK. Then OJK must also have law enforcement," Usman told VOI recently.

Regarding law enforcement for people involved in online lending and gambling cases, Kominfo and OJK also cooperate with the police or the National Police.

Usman also emphasized that to eradicate these content, the government must do so from upstream to downstream. Or, starting from financial literacy education by OJK and Kominfo.

"What's the result? Financial literacy carried out by the OJK is related to Kominfo. We literate the public to be careful when borrowing and checking whether the loan is legal or illegal," explained Usman.

Furthermore, Usman said that OJK must also be careful in granting permits. After that, OJK has the right to provide a white list for illegal loans.

"In the middle of the upstream, now this is the work of Kominfo in the middle. What are you doing in the middle? Takedown if there are borrowed content. It's downstream that's what law enforcement is," he added.

"If there is an element of violence when collecting, then there is an element of data theft. Right, it is prohibited by law. So the handling is comprehensive. If only this takedown is related to technology, yes, this technology is developing. They could emerge with a new domain," concluded Usman.