Indonesia Details How Online Gambling Spam Infiltrates Social Media Comments

Indonesian Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, has detailed the sophisticated methods used to spread online gambling promotions through social media comments. Perpetrators employ real-time monitoring systems to detect spikes in user interactions on social media accounts, subsequently posting spam comments.

"Based on reports received by the Ministry of Communication and Digital, the spam operation was carried out through a system capable of monitoring social media activity in real time," Hafid stated during a press conference on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. These automated attacks, often executed by bots, can generate thousands of comments targeting accounts with high engagement.

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Based on reports received by the Ministry of Communication and Digital, the spam operation was carried out through a system capable of monitoring social media activity in real time.

Hafid highlighted that the increasingly organized nature of these attacks and the use of advanced technology necessitate a collaborative approach. She stressed that combating this spam cannot be solely the responsibility of the government. "This requires cross-agency collaboration, not just from the government but also from the private sector, particularly platforms, to address this issue," she urged.

The ministry's findings indicate that accounts belonging to regional influencers with high interaction rates are the primary targets, accounting for 52 percent of the spam comments. Government agency accounts received 31 percent, mass media accounts 12 percent, and accounts of public figures and politicians received 5 percent. This shift in targeting underscores the evolving tactics of those promoting illegal online gambling.

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This requires cross-agency collaboration, not just from the government but also from the private sector, particularly platforms, to address this issue.