Indonesia urged NAPs to cut access to foreign online gambling sites

The order came from Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Information (Kominfo), with a three-working-day period for NAPs to comply or face penalties. 

Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi has urged all Indonesian NAPs to cut access to foreign internet lines, particularly those from Cambodia and the Philippines, which are heavily suspected to be serving online gambling sites. 

According to Indonesian news agencies, the request has been stated in an official letter to all NAP Service Providers signed on 21 June 2024. The NAP Service Providers were given a 3-working-days period to comply with the request or face penalties in failing to do so. 

“(NAP providers should) disconnect access to internet lines that are suspected of being utilised for online gambling activities, especially those based in Cambodia and the Philippines' Davao, no later than 3 x 24 hours after the signing of this letter,” he was quoted saying. 

The request was in compliance with Law No. 36 of 1999 regarding telecommunication after the meeting held by the Task Force for Eradicating Online Gambling chaired by Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (PPTAK) Coordinating Minister Hadi Tjahjanto on 19 June. 

The minister has also requested that NAP providers to update the Government regarding the precautions and efforts they’d taken to ensure compliance to facilitate further evaluations on the resulting impact. 

Just recently in May, Budi has also reminded local ISPs to synchronise with government efforts in blocking illegal online gambling. Indonesia’s President Jokowi has also affirmed that there will be no social aid for online gamblers.