The Indonesian government is currently drafting new regulations targeting VPNs, aimed at further combating online gambling activities. The government has started to solicit expert opinions to refine the rules.
Indonesian authorities state that VPNs, by bypassing geographical restrictions, allow users to access blocked illegal gambling and pornography sites, posing ongoing challenges to law enforcement.
The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs has prioritized enhancing internet blocking technologies and drafting specific regulations for VPN monitoring, calling for active participation from legal and technical experts to address the urgent issues caused by VPN misuse.
Data shows that VPN usage in Indonesia is relatively high, with about 39% of internet users utilizing such tools in 2022. Experts estimate that about 30% of these users access restricted content, including gambling sites, through VPNs.
A professor from Bacharach University noted that many individuals involved in online gambling earn less than 5 million Indonesian Rupiah (approximately 309 USD) per month, and the user group may include minors.
