ICANN87 Conference Opens in Bali as Indonesia Highlights Crackdown on Online Gambling
At the opening of ICANN's 87th Annual General Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia's Communications and Digital Minister announced that authorities have taken action against more than 4.2 million pieces of online gambling-related content as of October 2026. This marks the first time Indonesia hosts an ICANN public forum, drawing international internet delegates to Bali.
Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, addressed the opening of the 87th ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) Annual General Meeting (ICANN87) at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua in Badung, Bali, on October 19, 2026. She stated that as of October 2026, the ministry has taken action against more than 4.2 million pieces of website content linked to illegal online gambling.
The minister explained that a key challenge of the digital era is building public trust in cyberspace amid rising digital crime threats. She noted that tackling Domain Name System (DNS) abuse such as phishing and malware requires close collaboration among government ministries, the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), domain registry operators, and active public participation.
She also highlighted digital inclusion and preservation of local cultural identity, pointing to PANDI's (Indonesia's domain name authority) late-2025 launch of domain names using Balinese script, with Sundanese, Javanese, and Batak script domains to follow.
ICANN87, running from October 17-22, 2026, marks a historic moment as the first time Indonesia has hosted an ICANN public forum. The event was originally scheduled to take place in Oman but was relocated to Nusa Dua, Bali, in June due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The conference features more than 200 working sessions covering topics including DNS abuse mitigation, the New generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) program, and Universal Acceptance of international domains.
Things to Consider
Foreign visitors and residents in Bali should remain cautious of unfamiliar gambling-related links or websites when using online banking or payment services, as these may be linked to phishing scams. During ICANN87 (October 17-22), expect increased traffic control and security presence around Nusa Dua, so plan extra travel time if passing through the area.
Source: detikcom