Digital Space Becomes Cleaner, Government Blocks 3 Million Pieces of Negative Content, Including Online Gambling
*) By: Dimas Permana
The government’s efforts to maintain a healthy and productive digital space continue to show positive results. Through hard work and strict oversight, the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) recorded that it has handled around 3 million pieces of negative content in the digital space over the past year. Of this number, online gambling content was the most frequently prosecuted, reaching over 2 million pieces. This step not only reflects the government’s firmness in enforcing regulations but also demonstrates a strong commitment to creating a safe digital space for all Indonesians.
According to Kemkomdigi data, from October 20, 2024, to October 20, 2025, 3,053,984 pieces of negative content were handled. Of this total, 2,377,283 pieces of content were online gambling, 612,618 pieces of content related to pornography, and 8,517 pieces of content were categorized as child pornography. This data shows that the threat to the national digital space remains significant, particularly from online gambling practices, which now often target young people. The government continues to strengthen its handling and prevention efforts by prioritizing a collaborative, cross-sectoral approach to minimize its negative impacts.
The Director General of Digital Space Supervision at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Alexander Sabar, emphasized that the Ministry cannot work alone to maintain a secure digital space. He stated that cyberspace supervision is a shared responsibility between the government, state institutions, the digital industry, and the public. In carrying out its duties, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs collaborates with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and law enforcement officials to strengthen supervision and close loopholes for the circulation of online gambling proceeds.
Alexander explained that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs applies two main approaches to digital space supervision: proactive and reactive. The proactive approach is implemented through 24-hour cyber patrols, management of the Content Moderation Compliance System (SAMAN), and coordination with global digital platforms such as Meta, Google, and TikTok to moderate content suspected of violating the law. Meanwhile, a reactive approach is implemented by following up on public reports through the aduankonten.id channel and reports from other ministries and institutions. The combination of these two approaches makes action against negative content faster, more accurate, and more measurable, thereby further protecting Indonesia’s digital space.
The government also emphasizes the importance of digital literacy as the primary bulwark against negative content. In this context, educating the public about the dangers of online gambling, cyber fraud, and the spread of hoaxes is a priority. These efforts are carried out not only through digital campaign programs but also through collaboration with educational institutions, digital communities, and civil society organizations. The higher the public’s digital literacy, the stronger the nation’s resilience to the ever-growing negative influences of cyberspace.
The Chairperson of Commission I of the Palangka Raya City Council (DPRD), Hj. Mukarramah, expressed her appreciation for the government’s decisive action in blocking millions of pieces of negative content, particularly those related to online gambling. According to her, this policy is a concrete manifestation of the state’s commitment to protecting the public from the increasingly widespread practice of digital gambling, which is disturbing various groups. She added that this policy demonstrates the government’s moral and social responsibility to ensure that the digital space does not become a place for the development of deviant behavior that is detrimental to society.
Mukarramah also assessed that this government effort also serves as an important momentum to strengthen cooperation between all parties, from legislative bodies, law enforcement, the education sector, and the general public. He believes that monitoring online gambling should not stop at the technical realm of blocking sites or applications, but must also be accompanied by an educational and cultural approach so that the public understands its dangers. Thus, eradicating online gambling should not be merely reactive, but also preventative and sustainable.
This step aligns with the government’s vision of creating a healthy, safe, and inclusive national digital ecosystem. The government wants to ensure that the ongoing digital transformation is not tainted by illegal activities such as online gambling, financial fraud, or the spread of other harmful content. In the long term, this policy is expected to strengthen public trust in the digital space, while improving the quality of online interactions across various sectors, including education, the economy, and social sectors.
Ultimately, the government’s success in suppressing online gambling…The discovery of over 3 million pieces of negative content, particularly those related to online gambling, is not the end of the struggle, but rather the beginning of a collective movement towards a cleaner and more ethical digital space. The public is expected to not only be passive users but also to play an active role in reporting and rejecting any negative content they encounter. Collective awareness and shared concern are key to ensuring Indonesia’s digital space is truly healthy, productive, and globally competitive.
*) The author is a Public Policy Observer.
