Damascus, June 14 (SANA)The Ministry of Communications andInformation Technologyannounced on Sunday that it blocked access to a number of gambling and betting websites targeting users in Syria as part of efforts to protect citizens and enhance digital safety.

In a statement on Telegram, the ministry said it took the necessary measures to suspend access to the websites in response to complaints it had received and in line with its commitment to protecting users and promoting a safe digital environment.

The ministry explained that the precautionary measure will remain in effect until a committee formed by the ministry completes its work to verify the activities of the websites, noting that gambling and betting activities violate applicable laws and entail financial and social risks that affect individuals and families.

The ministry added that it officially contacted social media platforms to take the necessary steps to halt advertisements linked to these websites that target users in Syria.

The move comes as part of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s efforts to curb the spread of online gambling and betting activities that violate applicable laws, protect users from associated financial and social risks and prevent the exploitation of digital platforms for illegal activities.