IDR 500 Million Fine for Digital "Platforms" That Still Promote "Online" Gambling

The government, through the Ministry of Communication and Information, has threatened digital platform providers with a fine of IDR 500 million if they are caught promoting online gambling.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi gave a statement to journalists after the third closed meeting regarding the handling of online gambling, Wednesday (22/5/2024). The meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo elected the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs as Chair of the Integrated Task Force for Eradicating Online Gambling.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Two days after the government formed the Task Force to Eradicate Online Gambling, Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi expressed his commitment that the government wants to completely eradicate the gambling ecosystem. One of them is by threatening a fine of IDR 500 million for platform providers who still promote online gambling.

This was conveyed by Budi Arie during an online press conference regarding the latest developments in the eradication of online gambling on Friday (24/5/2024) in Jakarta. He said that the government had communicated with a number of online platform providers to break the chain of the online gambling ecosystem. Of all the platforms, there is only one provider that does not want to commit to the government program, namely Telegram.

Budi Arie said that almost all online platform providers that have been used to promote online gambling have agreed to the latest regulations from the government. Google, for example, has discussed with the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemenkominfo) to track all online gambling promotions on their platform via Google Cloud. If the platform provider is not cooperative, he will threaten to close his license.

Also read: Online Gambling Content Increasingly Alarming, Government Forms Eradication Task Force

"If they are caught promoting online gambling, the fine for one content is Rp 500 million. Note that it's only for one content. So, is it too small or too big (the fine)?" Budi said to the journalists who attended the online press conference on Friday.

If they are caught promoting online gambling, the fine is Rp 500 million per content. Note that this is for only one content. So, is it too small or too big (the fine)?

Apart from communicating directly with platform providers, the Ministry of Communication and Information has also communicated with the Indonesian Mobile Phone Association (APSI) and International Service Providers regarding the new policy. According to Budi, the government actually already knows and has data on internet service providers that facilitate online gambling.

"Just wait, we'll close later. Just wait. "Later we will announce who owns the PT (limited company)," he stressed.

Just wait, we'll close later. Just wait. Later we will announce who owns the PT (limited company).

Previously reported, on Wednesday (22/5/2024) afternoon, for the third time, President Joko Widodo led a special closed meeting to discuss the handling of online gambling at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. Previously, a similar meeting was held on April 18th. Present in the meeting to further handle online gambling, among others, were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Minister of Communications and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi, National Police Chief (Pol) Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin, Head of the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) Hinsa Siburian, Head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) Ivan Yustiavandana, as well as Head of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) Mahendra Siregar.

As a result, the government is trying to continue to break the chain of online gambling, one of which is by forming an Online Gambling Eradication Task Force. This is in response to the increasingly worrying spread of online gambling content because tens of thousands of it have infiltrated educational and government institutions.

President Jokowi also ordered that the Online Gambling Eradication Task Force be able to have an impact and make breakthroughs in the short term. The second order is to cut off the online gambling ecosystem. The third commandment is to complete the entire ecosystem that makes online gambling possible (Kompas.id,22/5/2024).

TIM KOMPAS

Display of proof of transfer to Gebriele Desiree's account, Thursday (16/11/2023). The BNI account in the name of Gebrielle Desiree was openly used on one of the online gambling sites as a holding account for player deposits. The owner stated that he would close the account, but in a transfer attempt by the Kompas team, the account was still active.

Online gambling debt, soldier commits suicide

Budi emphasized that Indonesia's condition has reached an emergency situation regarding online gambling. The latest case that has gone viral and garnered public attention is a TNI officer who committed suicide due to allegedly being in debt from online gambling. He conveyed that the government is concerned and expresses condolences over the incident. Therefore, the government must move quickly to make efforts and collaborate across ministries with support from figures and all components of society.

This issue (a TNI officer committing suicide due to online gambling debt) has become a serious concern for the President, until Wednesday, May 22.

"This issue (TNI officers committing suicide because they were in debt because of online gambling) was a serious concern for the President until Wednesday, May 22. He again chaired an internal cabinet meeting to discuss developments in eradicating online gambling. The results of the meeting decided to form an Eradication Task Force for Online Gambling. "Of course, I and the entire Ministry of Communication and Information staff also immediately followed up on the cabinet meeting with concrete, tactical and strategic steps," he said.

Strong warning

From 17 July 2023-22 May 2024, the Ministry of Communication and Information claims to have cut off access to 1,918,520 pieces of content containing online gambling. The Ministry of Communication and Information has also submitted a request to close 555 online wallet (e-wallet) accounts related to online gambling to Bank Indonesia during the period October-May 2024. In detail, the application for blocking 5,364 bank accounts related to online gambling to the OJK since September 17 2023 -May 22, 2024.

The Ministry of Communication and Information has also taken down (take down) 18,877 gambling page inserts on educational sites and 22,714 gambling page inserts on government sites from 2023 to May 22 2024. Apart from that, there are also keyword updates or keyword passwords related to online videos to make it easier to patrol content, namely 20,241 keywords to Google from 7 November 2023-22 May 2024 and 2,702 keywords to Meta from 15 December 2022-22 May 2024.

The policy announcement in the mass media is also a stern warning to all digital platform managers such as X, Telegram, Google, Meta, and Tiktok to be more cooperative towards the latest policies of the Ministry of Communication and Information.

"As an illustration, the top 10 closest online keywords in the last week were Liveslot, RTP Slot, Nolimit Slot, situslot, Slotgacor, Pragatikslot, Casino Online, Togel, Bonus Slot, and CQ9," said Budi.

Furthermore, Budi emphasized that the announcement of the policy in the mass media is also a strong warning to all digital platform managers such as X, Telegram, Google, Meta, and Tiktok to be more cooperative towards the latest policy of the Ministry of Communication and Information. Because if they are not cooperative in eradicating online gambling on their platforms, the government will impose a fine of up to Rp 500 million per content.

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

The eleven suspects managing online gambling sites were shown at the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Friday (8/9/2023).

This strong warning was issued on a strong legal basis as well. The fines for digital platforms are in accordance with Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions and Government Regulation Number 43 of 2023 concerning Types and Tariffs for Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) which apply to the Ministry of Communication and Information.

Another regulation is the Minister of Communication and Information Technology Regulation Number 5 of 2020 concerning the Management of Private Electronic Systems and its amendments, as well as Minister of Communication and Information Technology Decision Number 172 of 2024 concerning Guidelines for the Implementation of Non-Tax State Revenue derived from the imposition of Administrative Sanctions of Fines for Violations of Obligations of Private User Generated Content Electronic Systems to Terminate Access.

Regarding handling via ISP, the Ministry of Communication and Information implements a Trust+ database system in the form of a blacklist of domains and URLs, excluding IP addresses which must be blocked by all ISPs currently totaling 1,011 organizers.

The policy for revoking internet service provider (ISP) permits is carried out in accordance with Law No. 36/1990 concerning Telecommunications and its amendment provisions, Minister of Communication and Information Regulation No. 13/2019 concerning the Implementation of Telecommunications Services and its amendment provisions, as well as Minister of Communication and Information Regulation No. 5 /2020 concerning the Implementation of Private Electronic Systems and provisions for amendments.

"Regarding handling via ISPs, the Ministry of Communication and Information implements a Trust+ database system in the form of a blacklist of domains and URLs, excluding IP addresses which must be blocked by all existing ISPs "This amounts to 1,011 organizers," he said.

KOMPAS/ANDY RIZA HIDAYAT

A resident opened an online gambling site in the Jabung District, East Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, on Sunday (3/9/2023). Some teenagers are addicted to playing online gambling, causing them financial problems. This phenomenon can trigger the occurrence of crime within the community.

We will see from those that have been blocked what further steps we can take, to see the possibility of how the owners’ names can also be individuals that need to be monitored throughout all banks, not just in the banks where their accounts have been blocked.

The Ministry of Communication and Information also asked ISPs to automatically synchronize the process of updating the list of negative content, including online gambling, to the Ministry of Communication and Information's Trust+ domain name system (DNS). The latest data shows that only 35 percent of the total 1,011 ISPs carry out automatic synchronization. The Ministry of Communication and Information also obtained results that 26 out of a total of 136 sampling were still able to access negative content, including online gambling content and pornography.

"Regarding this matter, the Ministry of Communication and Information has issued administrative sanctions in the form of first warning letters to 26 ISPs and second warning letters to 31 ISPs," said the spokesperson.

Also read: "Online" gambling surrounds Indonesia from Cambodia

According to him, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology will strive to do everything in their power to eradicate online gambling. Therefore, they are also asking all elements of society to support these measures.

"I believe that education and literacy for the wider community is very crucial and important to be carried out simultaneously with handling online gambling content," he stressed.

From the investigation, according to Budi Arie, the online gambling servers are located in Cambodia and the Philippines. In Cambodia, for example, there are 70,000 people involved. However, according to Budi Arie, the Indonesian Government cannot do much outside its jurisdiction. This is because in neighboring countries, online gambling is considered legal.

Yesterday, Head of BSSN Hinsa Siburian stated that BSSN is ready to support the Online Gambling Eradication Task Force. Similar statements were also made by Chairman of the OJK Commissioner Council, Mahendra Siregar. "We will examine the steps that need to be taken for those who have been blocked to see the possibility of identifying the names of the owners who should be monitored in all banks, not just in the banks where their accounts have been blocked," he said.