The Jakarta Post
The internet is a free space no more for tobacco companies seeking to market their products after the Communications and Information Ministry accepted a Health Ministry request to block cigarette advertising on the web. Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara had ordered his officials to search for websites containing cigarette advertisements, the ministry announced on Thursday. It found that at least 141 platforms — including Facebook, YouTube and Google — had violated Article 46 of the 2009 Health Law, which bans images of cigarettes from tobacco ads, ministry spokesman Ferdinandus Setu said in a statement. “Our team is currently taking down these accounts and content from the platforms.” With over 171 million users across the archipelago, the internet serves as one of the most effective ways for cigarette companies to sell their products, particularly to the nation...