Online gambling on 2024 Presidential Election results prompts response from Indonesian Government

INDONESIA: Online gambling related to the 2024 Presidential Election has stirred controversy in Indonesia.

The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) has raised an alarm, swiftly responding to the appearance of such content on digital platforms.

The online gambling content related to the 2024 Presidential Election surfaced on social media, featuring the faces of three presidential candidates: Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo, and Prabowo Subianto.

This revelation caused a commotion in the virtual world, prompting immediate action from authorities.

“We have engaged in discussions with them. If it lingers on social media, more people will absorb and participate in it.”

“Many people are unaware, thinking it’s a poll when, in fact, it’s a bet.”

“It’s extraordinary, and I believe it’s an anticipation that we must undertake. People are exploiting such things,” stated Usman Kansong, the Director-General of Information and Public Communication at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics in Jakarta on Thursday (24 Nov).

Expressing his surprise, Usman noted that online gambling has expanded its reach, now extending to political events such as the 2024 Presidential Election.

“It’s not just sport anymore; now even presidential elections are being exploited,” he remarked.

To prevent a recurrence of online gambling activities related to the 2024 Presidential Election, Kominfo has collaborated with major digital platforms such as Google, X, and Instagram.

“We have already discussed with the platforms. This regime is not about censorship; we only know when there is a report. Therefore, we are working to persuade platforms to actively monitor. ”

“Once identified as gambling, it must be taken down immediately. We should not let it circulate for too long,” emphasized Usman.

Prior to this, an Instagram account had uploaded content related to betting on the 2024 Presidential Election, featuring images of Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto, and Ganjar Pranowo.

The uploader also included a registration link for voting with associated scores. The post has since been removed, and the account responsible for the upload has been suspended.

Indonesian authorities are determined to tackle such issues promptly to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.