Indonesia has partnered with the social media giant Meta to combat the growing use of social media comment sections to promote illegal online gambling in the country, forming a joint task force to tackle coordinated spam campaigns driven by automated bot networks.
According to a report by the Indonesian news agency Antara, the Ministry of Communication and Digital announced the partnership after detecting a 128 per cent increase in gambling-related spam comments over the past two weeks compared with the average recorded between January and June 2026. Officials said the latest tactic marks a shift in how illegal gambling operators reach users, moving from conventional online advertisements to organised comment spam on popular social media accounts.
The ministry said the joint task force with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, will focus on disrupting gambling-related spam while strengthening cooperation on content moderation and enforcement. Authorities added that similar partnerships would also be pursued with other digital platforms as Indonesia expands its crackdown on illegal online gambling.
The latest collaboration forms part of Indonesia’s wider campaign against online gambling, which remains illegal under national law.
Bots exploit high-engagement accounts
According to Antara, Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid said gambling operators now rely on systems capable of monitoring social media activity in real time before launching coordinated spam attacks.
The ministry said the systems identify accounts experiencing a surge in engagement before automatically posting promotional comments linking users to gambling websites. Authorities believe the operations are highly organised, with bot-controlled accounts capable of publishing thousands of comments within a short period.
Officials said the increasing sophistication of these campaigns means tackling the problem requires cooperation beyond government agencies, making support from technology companies essential.
Data collected by the ministry shows that regional influencers have become the primary targets of spam campaigns due to their large, active audiences. Around 52 per cent of gambling-related spam comments were found on influencer accounts, while government institutions accounted for 31 per cent. Media organisations represented 12 per cent, with public figures and politicians making up the remaining five percent.
Authorities said the pattern suggests gambling operators are deliberately targeting accounts with high engagement to maximise the visibility of their promotions.
Cross-sector cooperation expands
Beyond Meta, Indonesia is expanding cooperation with other institutions to address the latest gambling promotion tactics.
According to Antara, the Ministry of Communication and Digital is working with the Indonesian National Police, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) to investigate and disrupt online gambling networks.
Meta also described online gambling as a cross-border issue that requires collaboration between governments, law enforcement agencies and technology companies. The company said operators continue adapting their methods to avoid detection by platform moderation systems, including the use of ordinary-looking keywords designed to bypass automated filters before directing users to gambling websites.
The technology company added that improving artificial intelligence systems, strengthening human moderation and enhancing policy enforcement would remain central to tackling gambling-related content across its platforms.
The partnership comes weeks after Indonesian authorities warned that nearly 200,000 minors had been exposed to online gambling content and activities, prompting the government to broaden its national response.
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