Jakarta, August 20, 2024, The Europe Today: Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics is intensifying its efforts to monitor and block negative online content, including illegal online gambling sites, by leveraging advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Teguh Arifiyadi, the ministry’s Director of Application Control, highlighted these initiatives during an online discussion on Monday.
Arifiyadi emphasized that the adoption of machine learning technology enables the ministry’s system to continuously learn from existing patterns and adapt its blocking methods in response to the evolving technologies employed by those behind online gambling operations. “With machine learning technology, our system can learn from existing patterns and continue to update the blocking method in accordance with the developments of technologies used by the perpetrators,” he said.
He further noted that these technological advancements not only prevent access to illicit sites but also curb the rapid emergence of new gambling sites, which often appear just hours after the original sites are blocked.
Despite the technological advancements, Arifiyadi acknowledged that the substantial financial circulation involved in online gambling presents significant challenges. He revealed that the money flow in these illegal activities is estimated to surpass Rp300 trillion (approximately US$19.27 billion) and could potentially reach Rp400 trillion (around US$25.7 billion) by the end of the year.
In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics is collaborating closely with several key agencies, including the National Police (Polri), the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), along with other ministries and agencies. This cooperation aims to bolster monitoring efforts and take decisive actions against online gambling operations. “For example, with the OJK, we are working to block bank accounts used in online gambling transactions,” Arifiyadi explained.
Supporting these efforts, Tuti Wahyuningsih, Deputy for Strategy and Cooperation at PPATK, reported that in 2023, the circulation of money in online gambling reached Rp327 trillion (around US$21 billion), involving approximately 3.7 million individuals. She also highlighted that in 2024, transactions in 4,548 accounts suspected of being used for online gambling deposits were halted, with a total estimated amount of Rp10.39 billion (around US$667,478) being blocked.
Meanwhile, Deden Firman, Head of the OJK’s Sharia Banking Department, stated that the OJK, through its online gambling eradication task force, is concentrating on two main areas: prevention and enforcement. In terms of prevention, the OJK is focusing on educating the public and ensuring consumer protection. “As for action, we are cooperating with various parties, including the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, to block accounts used for online gambling activities,” Firman added.
These concerted efforts reflect the Indonesian government’s commitment to tackling the pervasive issue of online gambling, which poses significant risks to public welfare and the economy.
