Indonesia is intensifying its crackdown on illegal online gambling by expanding the use of artificial intelligence tools to detect and block offending websites, as reported by Antara News.
Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid said the ministry has so far blocked access to approximately 3.2 million online gambling sites and is continuing to enhance its technological capabilities. She noted that many platforms rapidly replicate and disguise themselves to avoid detection.
“One site can grow to 75 sites and continue to camouflage itself to avoid detection by crawlers,” Hafid said, referring to automated web-scanning systems used to identify prohibited content. She stressed that such tactics would not deter the government from upgrading its technology.
The push follows the recent dismantling of an international online gambling network operating out of the Hayam Wuruk area in Jakarta. On May 9, police arrested 320 foreign nationals allegedly involved in running structured, cross-border gambling operations using electronic systems. Those detained included 228 Vietnamese, 57 Chinese and individuals from several other Southeast Asian countries.
Hafid emphasized that technological enforcement alone will not solve the problem. While takedowns remove access to illegal content, she said broader public awareness and family-level vigilance are also necessary to curb demand.
The ministry is working alongside law enforcement, the Financial Services Authority, banks and social media platforms to monitor financial flows and remove gambling-related advertisements.
Authorities say online gambling operators continue to evolve their methods, prompting Indonesia to invest further in AI-driven monitoring systems to keep pace with increasingly complex digital networks.
Officials warn that site takedowns alone are not enough and are urging greater public awareness and cross-agency cooperation to curb online gambling
