Komdigi Blocks 2 Social Media Accounts Promoting Online Gambling, Will the Perpetrators Be Arrested Too?

Police searched the Komdigi office in Jakarta regarding online gambling involving the ministry employee, Friday, November 1, 2024. (ANTARA-HO-Ditreskrimum Polda Metro Jaya)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) through the Directorate of Informatics Application Control has blocked social media influencer accounts that promote online gambling practices (judol).

According to the Director of Political, Legal and Security Communication Information at the Directorate General of Public Information and Communication Komdigi Maroli J Indarto, the mode of online gambling advertisements on social media is increasingly diverse and difficult to identify.

"The perpetrators often disguise gambling advertisements with attractive packaging, such as entertainment content, memes, or viral videos, which then insert an invitation to gamble," said Maroli, quoting from a press release on Thursday, November 7, quoted by Antara.

Komdigi is said to have blocked Instagram accounts such as @Its_moviemoment which has 133 thousand followers and the @iamsamanthatwo account with 13,000 followers.

The last account disguised itself using content containing images of scantily clad women, while its profile directed users to gambling sites.

Maroli said that the perpetrators often use fake accounts or accounts with many followers to spread links to gambling sites.

They also use certain terms or symbols to trick social media moderation systems, so that their ads can escape platform detection.

The ads target young users who are active on social media with persuasive and tempting language, such as the lure of big bonuses or easy winning opportunities.

Komdigi also provides various channels for the public to report negative content, including online gambling. Among these channels is Aduankonten.id, which provides a WhatsApp contact at 0811-9224-545.

In addition, there is the WA chatbot 'Stop Online Gambling' at 0811-1001-5080, as well as Aduannomor.id, a portal for reporting misuse of mobile numbers in fraudulent activities.

Finally, there is Cekrekening.id which is a portal for reporting bank accounts or e-wallets that are suspected of committing criminal acts.