Colombia

Surge in violence leads to online crackdown in Colombia

The Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications (MinTIC) issued External Circular No. 0017 of 2025. The document outlines the guidelines and procedures for requesting, assigning, and using credentials, as well as for uploading and blocking channels, websites, and media identified by Coljuegos that promote the exploitation, operation, sale, payment, advertising, or commercialization of unauthorized games of chance and betting. Internet service providers will be required to adhere to these guidelines and use an official platform to carry out the blocking of these sites.

This measure is enacted to comply with Decree 0175 of 2025, which adopts tax measures in response to the state of internal commotion declared in the Catatumbo region, the metropolitan area of Cúcuta, and the municipalities of Río de Oro and González in the department of Cesar. Under this Decree, Coljuegos will be able to directly publish on the platform designated for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) the list of URLs of digital content that violate gaming laws, so that they can be managed as required.

In a statement the Ministry emphasized that “this action aims to combat the spread of illegal betting platforms and protect individuals from unauthorized content, safeguarding the integrity of legitimate services on the internet.”

In January, a spike in guerrilla violence in northeastern Colombia resulted in more than 100 fatalities and the displacement of nearly 20,000 people, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency. President Gustavo Petro announced a “state of internal commotion” and a “state of economic emergency” in response to the turmoil. The declaration enables the executive branch to enact specific types of legislation without needing congressional approval for a period of three months.

In February the Ministry of Finance decreed three new taxes that will be in effect until December 31, 2025, with the aim of financing expenses related to the state of internal commotion. The new fiscal measures affect online gambling, the export of oil and coal, and national stamp tax. With Decree 0175 of February 14, 2025, a 19% tax was established on online games of chance, a 1% levy on national sales and exports of oil and coal, and a 1% tax on the stamp duty for transactions exceeding $300 million.