Indonesia drafts VPN regulations to strengthen online gambling crackdown
The government is seeking expert input on new rules.
Indonesia.- The Indonesian government is preparing regulations to restrict the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) as part of its crackdown on online gambling. It says VPNs enable users to circumvent geoblocking measures intended to block illegal betting and pornography websites, making enforcement a “cat-and-mouse” game.
The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Kemenko Polkam, has identified two priorities: strengthening site-blocking technology and drafting VPN-specific rules. Officials have invited legal and technology experts to provide input, stressing the urgency of new measures amid widespread VPN use.
Indonesia has high VPN usage, with nearly 39 per cent of internet users using the technology, according to 2022 data. Experts warn that around 30 per cent of users employ the tools to access restricted content, including gambling sites. Professor Sinta Dewi Rosadi of Padjadjaran University said many online gamblers earn less than IDR5m (US$309) a month, and children may also be among those accessing betting platforms.
