Indonesia’s communications minister, Meutya Hafid, has carried out a surprise inspection of Meta’s Jakarta office, causing concerns over the company’s response to harmful online content, including illegal gambling promotions.

The inspection on 4 March followed government monitoring, which showed that Meta’s compliance rate in acting on flagged content was only 28.47 percent, one of the lowest among digital services operating in Indonesia.

Officials said the problematic material largely involved online gambling advertisements and DFK content, a category used by regulators to describe disinformation, defamation and hate speech circulating across social media.

Indonesia’s communications ministry warned that such content can pose a risk to public safety and social stability if it spreads widely without effective moderation. Hafid criticised Meta for leaving harmful material online even after repeated reports from regulators. Officials said global platforms in Indonesia must follow local laws and act quickly when violations are found.

Indonesia’s communications minister, Meutya Hafid (in the centre)
Source: komdigi.go.id

Under Article 40 of Law No. 1 of 2024, which updates the country’s digital rules through the revised Information and Electronic Transactions Law (Indonesia), electronic system operators are required to comply with national regulations and maintain a secure digital framework for users.

Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp each have roughly 112 million users in Indonesia, making enforcement failures particularly sensitive. Authorities say that with such a large audience, even a small share of unmoderated damaging content can circulate fast.
 

Disguised ads promoting gambling

One concern raised during the inspection involved the way illegal gambling advertisements are disguised online. Regulators said many promotions are designed to avoid automated moderation systems by appearing as ordinary informational posts.

Some of the ads deceive the public by appearing as health advice or lifestyle tips, posts of diabetes treatment or fruit nutrition. But the moment they are clicked, users are taken to illegal gambling websites, sidestepping Indonesia’s ban on online gambling. Gambling remains illegal in Indonesia, but authorities say underground digital betting networks still generate billions of dollars in transactions every year.

Gambling is still illegal under Indonesian law, yet authorities say underground digital betting networks continue to generate billions of dollars in transactions each year.

Regulators argue that weak enforcement by major platforms allows these networks to keep attracting new users. Officials also warned that this causes serious concerns about consumer protection and financial exploitation, particularly for vulnerable users.

The ministry said the surprise visit shows a shift in approach, with authorities moving towards stronger regulatory enforcement rather than quiet discussions with technology companies.
 

Questions over algorithm mechanism

Indonesia is also pressing Meta to provide greater visibility about how its content moderation systems and algorithmic systems operate, especially in cases where illegal material appears to evade detection.

Officials are calling for quicker removal of posts linked to gambling, fraud and exploitation. They also want clearer reporting channels so government agencies can flag harmful content more easily. Authorities said that repeated failures to comply could lead to sanctions or legal action.

Authorities warned that repeated compliance failures could trigger sanctions or legal action. The government says it has already removed more than 5.7 million gambling-related posts, highlighting the scale of compliance difficulties. It also indicates a stronger regulatory pressure on global platforms such as Meta Platforms operating in large digital markets.

 

 

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