Government Closes Online Gambling Access Gaps, Demonstrates Real Commitment to Protecting Children in the Digital Space
Jakarta — The government continues to strengthen strategic measures to protect children from the growing threat of online gambling in the digital environment.
Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah Fauzi, expressed deep concern regarding findings from the Attorney General’s Office showing the involvement of children—including elementary school students—in online gambling activities.
She emphasized that this situation signals a state of emergency in child protection within the digital realm.
“When our children have become either perpetrators or victims within the online gambling ecosystem, this is not only a legal violation but also a violation of a child’s right to grow and develop in a healthy, safe, and protected environment,” Arifah stated.
Arifah explained that online gambling not only poses risks of addiction but also triggers psychological stress and deviant behavior that can disrupt children’s learning processes and development. Therefore, she said, all parties must take firm and structured action.
“The state and adults have the responsibility to ensure and protect children from such high-risk digital environments,” she added.
She stressed the need for layered supervision involving families, schools, communities, and the state in monitoring children’s activities. As a follow-up, the Ministry of PPPA has coordinated across sectors with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department to enhance child-friendly digital literacy and carry out mass blocking of online gambling content.
“For children who have already been exposed or become victims, the Ministry of PPPA provides counseling services and psychosocial support with a rehabilitative and non-stigmatizing approach,” Arifah said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) has shown the same commitment through large-scale blocking efforts. Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, revealed that the ministry has blocked 2.45 million online gambling sites and content from October 2024 to November 2025.
“The total number of blocked sites and content is 2,458,934. This includes 2.166—several million—sites, as well as file-sharing platforms,” Meutya explained.
The government is currently working quickly to close all access gaps, including those linked to the Kingdom Group network, an online gambling syndicate considered dangerous to the future of children.
These efforts have resulted in a downward trend in online gambling activity and further prove the government’s seriousness in protecting the public—especially children—from increasingly complex digital crime. *
