Kominfo Affirms Its Commitment to Eradicate Online Gambling and Loans

Screenshot of the Zoom Forum Merdeka Barat 9: Against Digital-Based Financial Crimes (photo: Dinda Buana/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Communication and Informatics emphasized that currently the Indonesian government is still trying to eradicate digital financial crimes which are increasingly rife and increasingly sophisticated, including online gambling and online loans (pinjol).

"Initially from online gambling, because the money has run out, he will run to borrowers because the conditions are easy and quickly disbursed. In the end, it can be a criminal act," said the Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi in the Merdeka Barat 9 Forum: Against Digital-Based Financial Crime, on Monday, August 21 online.

Menkominfo Budi also admitted that he had coordinated with all cellular operators in Indonesia to help stop the spread of online gambling content.

"I told the operator, don't use this gambling anymore, it's immediately blocked, this gambling now uses all foreign numbers. Because we have surrounded gambling, it's not allowed, now it's just borrowing money and so will it later," explained Budi further.

Not only with cellular operators, but the Ministry of Communication and Information has also carried out prevention and enforcement efforts in collaboration across ministries and institutions, including the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and also the National Police.

"We will continue to strive to improve people's digital literacy so that they can better understand the risks of illegal loans," said the new Minister of Communication and Information.

In addition, the Minister of Communication and Information also emphasized that his party will continue to encourage all institutions, both government and private, to be responsible for the consumer's personal data they collect.

"We will not hesitate to act if there is a personal data breach. This personal data is not just gold, not diamonds, but an expensive commodity," he concluded.