REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) urges the state to eradicate online gambling. Kawiyan, Commissioner of the KPAI Subcluster Child Victims of Pornography and Cybercrime, said the state must present protecting society and the children of the nation's next generation from online gambling.
“The state must not be outdone by efforts that undermine the nation and the future of children, Kawiyan said in his statement, quoted Thursday (25/4/2024).
If online gambling has actually really damaged society and children, Kawiyan said, it certainly could not be dealt with in ordinary ways. Digital crimes targeting children today, including online gambling and pornography.
“To borrow the term of President Joko Widodo, it should be considered an extraordinary crime or an extra ordinary crime,” he continued.
Therefore, this should not be dealt with in ordinary ways, but must also be exceptionally enforced, namely law enforcement and severe punishment to the perpetrators. In addition, it implements the absence of tolerance or reproach against violators of the law.
Earlier according to Menkopolhukam Hadi Tjahjanto, online gambling has involved 3.2 million people throughout 2023. The turnover of gambling money in 2023 reached Rp 327 trillion with 3.2 million people involved/played. Most of them play below the value of Rp 100 thousand.
PPATK has released fantastic funds from online gambling in October 2023. When PPATK mentioned, most of those who transacted IDR 100 thousand or less were housewives and children.
Although it has not been definitively established that children are victims of online gambling, the KPAI recommends that online gambling prevention efforts be made among children, students and parents. Literacy and education must be carried out massively and widely, reaching all elements of society.
This is in order to form a society that can wisely operate in the online/digital realm. The Ministry of Cominfo was instructed to use all of its technological sophistication and HR excellence to counteract and block all online gambling sites.
“The goal is to make sure that children can't access online gambling sites,” Kawiyan explained.
At the same time, there must be enforcement against industries, bookies, operators and anyone who abuses the digital space for online gambling and other exploitative interests. The Electronic Information and Transactions Act (ITE) has been revised twice, the Child Protection Act, the Pornography Act, and the Child Criminal Justice System Act.
A number of existing government regulations are considered to be strong enough to provide a legal umbrella for law enforcement agencies to crack down on violators and provide protection to the public. It is also important to emphasize healthy and safe ways in digital activities.