Online gambling task force to take preventive actions: minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The online gambling eradication task force that is currently being established will be tasked with carrying out both responsive and preventive measures, according to Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Hadi Tjahjanto.

“Pertaining to responsive measures, the task force will take actions against accounts or websites that facilitate online gambling activities,” he informed in Jakarta on Thursday.

Elaborating on the composition of the special task force, Tjahjanto said that it will consist of officials from law enforcement institutions that wield the authority to conduct investigations and identify suspects.

The task force will be supported by representatives of financial institutions to enable it to trace the flow of funds from bank accounts that harbor assets related to online gambling practices, he added.

The minister explained that by tracing the flow of funds, the task force will be able to identify parties that operate online gambling sites.

He added that the government will then take follow-up action by blocking people’s access to the identified websites.

In terms of prevention, the task force will massively disseminate information on the dangers posed by online gambling to society, Tjahjanto said.

“Moreover, the government will report progress and efforts made by the task force to the public,” he added.

According to him, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will soon issue a regulation on the establishment of the task force.

“God Willing, the presidential regulation will be signed in a week, so that we can start working,” he added.

Earlier, on Wednesday, President Widodo announced in a press statement that the task force will be formed soon as part of efforts to eradicate online gambling.

“The government has been serious in eradicating and combating online gambling. We have managed to take down over 2.1 million online gambling sites. Moreover, the online gambling eradication task force is about to be formed,” he informed in Jakarta.

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