Gambling ads slip through Meta’s filters in Indonesia despite ban, Agence France-Presse says
The news agency found betting promotions across Meta platforms.
Indonesia.- Agence France-Presse has reported that dozens of gambling ads are appearing on Facebook, Instagram and Threads in Indonesia disguised as other content such as health tips or games. The content redirects users to betting sites in violations of Indonesian law and Meta’s own advertising rules, the news agency said.
Some users complained of ads targeting minors. Meta has removed several flagged ads.
Indonesian authorities say they have had taken down more than 5.7 million pieces of gambling-related content since 2017 and have arrested at least 85 influencers for promoting betting. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs said it may impose sanctions on platforms that fail to curb illegal content.
A Populix study indicates that 98 per cent of social media users in Indonesia have been exposed to gambling promotions, while 32 per cent say they tried online gambling after seeing such ads. Authorities estimate online gambling transactions reached IDR927tn (US$55.7bn) between 2017 and early 2025.
