By: Yussita Aprilia )*
The government continues to strengthen its efforts to eradicate online gambling, which is increasingly causing public concern. These efforts are not only focused on blocking sites and prosecuting perpetrators, but also on improving digital literacy as a long-term preventative measure. This approach is a comprehensive strategy that balances law enforcement with empowering the public to be more aware and aware of the dangers of online gambling.
Syaiful Garyadi, Assistant Deputy for Data Protection and Electronic Transactions Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, emphasized the importance of strengthening public education amidst the increasingly rapid onslaught of digital technology. He stated that border areas such as the Riau Islands are a clear example of how advances in digitalization can be misused by transnational networks to spread online gambling activities. Their geographical proximity to Singapore and Malaysia makes them vulnerable to being used as entry points by international syndicates.
Data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) shows a high level of public involvement in these activities. Of the 2.18 million residents of the Riau Islands, more than 66,000 are suspected of being involved in online gambling.
Even more concerning, thousands of social assistance recipients are also recorded as participating, with total transaction values reaching billions of rupiah. This fact confirms that the problem of online gambling is not only legal and moral, but also has a significant socio-economic impact on public welfare.
Syaiful emphasized that the public’s low digital literacy exacerbates the situation. Many residents do not understand the risks of using unofficial applications or how to protect their personal data from potential misuse. This is exploited by perpetrators to lure victims through misleading advertisements.
Therefore, the government, through the Online Gambling Eradication Desk coordinated by the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, continues to strengthen cross-agency synergy, including the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo), the National Police (Polri), the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the Ministry of Social Affairs, and local governments.
This synergy is aimed at harmonizing data protection policies, strengthening regulations based on the ITE Law and the Personal Data Protection Law, and mainstreaming digital literacy in all levels of education and the general public. This step demonstrates the government’s commitment not only to taking action but also to building collective awareness so that the public is not easily ensnared by online gambling practices.
Efforts to strengthen digital literacy also align with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Agency (PPATK) initiative through its “Operation Honey Bee” program. PPATK Deputy for Analysis and Examination, Danang Tri Hartono, explained that this operation was designed to strengthen data-driven collaboration between state institutions in preventing financial crimes, including online gambling. With a strong database, any indication of suspicious transactions can be immediately followed up in a transparent and measurable manner.
PPATK analysis shows that in the past eight years, online gambling funds have circulated in Indonesia to nearly IDR 1,000 trillion, with more than 700 million transactions. The number of players has nearly tripled in just the past two years. In fact, some of them are civil servants. This situation demonstrates the serious social and economic threat that online gambling poses to national stability.
Through Operation Honey Bee, PPATK not only prosecutes perpetrators but also encourages the use of financial intelligence data as a basis for preventative policies. This step is also expected to help optimize state tax revenue and strengthen clean financial governance.
By collaborating with the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, and law enforcement officials, the government wants to ensure that eradication efforts do not stop at the reactive level, but also build a sustainable digital protection system.
From an educational perspective, Ubaid Matraji, the National Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), believes that digital and financial literacy must be an integral part of the school curriculum. He believes it is crucial to strengthen digital education from an early age so that the younger generation can recognize the dangers of online gambling and online loans, which are often intertwined.
According to Ubaid, children must be equipped with the ability to understand how digital media algorithms work so they are not easily tempted by advertisements that lead to high-risk sites.
Ubaid also emphasized the importance of collaboration between schools, parents, and law enforcement officials. Monitoring children’s device use must be carried out consistently, while the government needs to ensure that no online gambling sites escape oversight. This approach is not solely a formal educational task, but also a social responsibility.Government Strengthens Literacy as a Comprehensive Measure to Eradicate Online Gambling
By: Yussita Aprilia )*
The government continues to strengthen its efforts to eradicate online gambling, which is increasingly causing public concern. These efforts are not only focused on blocking sites and prosecuting perpetrators, but also on improving digital literacy as a long-term preventative measure. This approach is a comprehensive strategy that balances law enforcement with empowering the public to be more aware and aware of the dangers of online gambling.
Syaiful Garyadi, Assistant Deputy for Data Protection and Electronic Transactions Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, emphasized the importance of strengthening public education amidst the increasingly rapid onslaught of digital technology. He stated that border areas such as the Riau Islands are a clear example of how advances in digitalization can be misused by transnational networks to spread online gambling activities. Their geographical proximity to Singapore and Malaysia makes them vulnerable to being used as entry points by international syndicates.
Data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) shows a high level of public involvement in these activities. Of the 2.18 million residents of the Riau Islands, more than 66,000 are suspected of being involved in online gambling.
Even more concerning, thousands of social assistance recipients are also recorded as participating, with total transaction values reaching billions of rupiah. This fact confirms that the problem of online gambling is not only legal and moral, but also has a significant socio-economic impact on public welfare.
Syaiful emphasized that the public’s low digital literacy exacerbates the situation. Many residents do not understand the risks of using unofficial applications or how to protect their personal data from potential misuse. This is exploited by perpetrators to lure victims through misleading advertisements.
Therefore, the government, through the Online Gambling Eradication Desk coordinated by the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, continues to strengthen cross-agency synergy, including the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo), the National Police (Polri), the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the Ministry of Social Affairs, and local governments.
This synergy is aimed at harmonizing data protection policies, strengthening regulations based on the ITE Law and the Personal Data Protection Law, and mainstreaming digital literacy in all levels of education and the general public. This step demonstrates the government’s commitment not only to taking action but also to building collective awareness so that the public is not easily ensnared by online gambling practices.
Efforts to strengthen digital literacy also align with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Agency (PPATK) initiative through its “Operation Honey Bee” program. PPATK Deputy for Analysis and Examination, Danang Tri Hartono, explained that this operation was designed to strengthen data-driven collaboration between state institutions in preventing financial crimes, including online gambling. With a strong database, any indication of suspicious transactions can be immediately followed up in a transparent and measurable manner.
PPATK analysis shows that in the past eight years, online gambling funds have circulated in Indonesia to nearly IDR 1,000 trillion, with more than 700 million transactions. The number of players has nearly tripled in just the past two years. In fact, some of them are civil servants. This situation demonstrates the serious social and economic threat that online gambling poses to national stability.
Through Operation Honey Bee, PPATK not only prosecutes perpetrators but also encourages the use of financial intelligence data as a basis for preventative policies. This step is also expected to help optimize state tax revenue and strengthen clean financial governance.
By collaborating with the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, and law enforcement officials, the government wants to ensure that eradication efforts do not stop at the reactive level, but also build a sustainable digital protection system.
From an educational perspective, Ubaid Matraji, the National Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), believes that digital and financial literacy must be an integral part of the school curriculum. He believes it is crucial to strengthen digital education from an early age so that the younger generation can recognize the dangers of online gambling and online loans, which are often intertwined.
According to Ubaid, children must be equipped with the ability to understand how digital media algorithms work so they are not easily tempted by advertisements that lead to high-risk sites.
Ubaid also emphasized the importance of collaboration between schools, parents, and law enforcement officials. Monitoring children’s device use must be carried out consistently, while the government needs to ensure that no online gambling sites escape oversight. This approach is not solely a formal educational task, but also a social responsibility.