Heaptalk, Jakarta — To prevent online gambling and other illegal activities in the digital space, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), in collaboration with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and mobile operators, will send SMS messages to online gambling players. The SMS will contain information about online gambling activities to educate the public. The technical team will finalize the message design and implement this socialization soon after.
“From the discussions we have had, two main topics were discussed, one of which is the effort to socialize with the public to avoid being caught up in or facing difficulties due to engaging in online gambling activities. The socialization in question is SMS sent to online gambling players,” said Ismail, the Acting Director General of Digital Infrastructure at Komdigi, in a press release in Jakarta.
Furthermore, Komdigi and several related agencies are working to prevent and limit the scope of online gambling activities through SMS. According to Ismail, mobile operators will begin sending out SMS blasts next week to warn online gambling players.
Additionally, the meeting also discussed efforts to prevent the use of credit transfers as a payment method for online gambling. Ismail stated that this effort is still in the initial discussion phase and will be followed up with technical meetings to determine the next steps. Mobile operators have committed to supporting this initiative to restrict online gambling activities.
Danang Tri Hartono, Deputy for Analysis and Examination at PPATK added that his agency has complete data on online gambling players and the flow of funds used. Therefore, PPATK, together with Komdigi, is working together to send SMS warnings to identified online gambling players to stop their activities. “Essentially, our focus is to make sure that these identified online gambling players stop playing. According to the Penal Code, Article 303 bis, this is considered a criminal act,” he said.
Danang hopes that mobile operators’ support in this socialization effort will help warn online gambling players to stop their activities. By the third quarter, the turnover of online gambling money reached Rp283 trillion, with a total deposit of around Rp43 trillion.
