Government Activates Early Detection System to Protect Children From Online Gambling Threats
By: Raka Prasetya
The government continues to strengthen efforts to protect children from the growing threat of online gambling through a series of more systematic and measurable strategic steps. One of the most alarming concerns is the presence of online gambling networks such as Kingdom Group, which are increasingly aggressive in exploiting technological loopholes to infiltrate children’s digital spaces. These networks not only distribute illegal gaming links but also use social media platforms, file-sharing systems, and messaging applications to target vulnerable young users. This situation shows that children are increasingly exposed to complex digital risks, prompting the need for tighter and more coordinated monitoring measures. The government believes that such threats cannot be addressed partially—they require an early detection system integrated with education and digital literacy strengthening.
Concerns about rising child involvement in online gambling intensified following findings by the Attorney General’s Office, which revealed a significant number of students, including elementary school pupils, identified as active users or victims of online gambling promotions. Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah Fauzi, stated that this phenomenon signals an emergency in child protection within the digital space. She emphasized that once children enter illegal ecosystems such as online gambling, it is not only a legal issue but also a violation of their rights to grow and develop safely, healthily, and securely. The government views child involvement in online gambling as a trigger for addiction, psychological stress, learning disturbances, and behavioral problems that could jeopardize their future.
The PPPA Minister also highlighted the need for multi-layered supervision involving families, schools, communities, and the state. She stressed that child protection cannot function effectively if reliant on a single institution—it must be collective and consistent. In today’s fast-moving digital world, children require intensive guidance because they are not yet fully capable of recognizing digital risks, including online gambling traps. Therefore, the PPPA Ministry urges all stakeholders to strengthen preventive systems and expand the blocking of digital content that could expose children to such threats.
In response to these concerns, the PPPA Ministry has initiated cross-sector coordination with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police (Bareskrim Polri) to enhance child-friendly digital literacy education. This coordination is critical to prevent further impact from the increasing promotion and access to online gambling within educational environments. The initiative also includes developing a more comprehensive online protection mechanism, increasing the speed of blocking illegal content, strengthening cyber monitoring, and providing dedicated reporting channels for children and families who need assistance.
In terms of digital enforcement, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs has taken firm action by blocking 2.45 million websites and content related to online gambling between October 2024 and November 2025. This action covers not only major gambling sites but also file-sharing platforms and other digital channels suspected of distributing gambling-related content. Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, stated that this massive blocking effort has significantly reduced online gambling activity in several regions. The government views this strict monitoring as a crucial component of protecting young generations—especially as large networks like Kingdom Group continue to adapt to avoid detection.
The government also recognizes that blocking alone is not enough. Therefore, an early detection system continues to be developed to accelerate the tracking of online gambling content distribution patterns before it reaches children. This system utilizes artificial intelligence-based monitoring technology, keyword analysis, and digital traffic mapping to identify suspicious activity. The government considers this approach essential given that gambling content distribution methods have become increasingly sophisticated, including the use of temporary domains, mirror sites, and distribution through hard-to-detect applications. With early detection, the government hopes to halt the flow of illegal content before it reaches vulnerable targets such as elementary and high school students.
Protecting children from online gambling threats requires full collaboration between the government and society. Parents, in particular, play a vital role in monitoring children’s digital activities at home and educating them about the dangers of high-risk content. The government calls on all elements of society to remain vigilant and prevent children from being trapped in the cycle of online gambling that can destroy their futures. Only through collective action can Indonesia’s young generation be protected and grow in a digital environment that is safe, healthy, and oriented toward a better future.
*) The author is a Local Media Contributor.
