en.malanginspirasi.com – The government continues to strengthen public protection in the digital space by implementing biometric-based mobile SIM card registration through facial recognition.
This policy, which came into effect on July 1, 2026, is a preventative measure to eradicate identity theft and cybercrime, the value of which has reached trillions of rupiah.
Alfreno Kautsar Ramadhan, Special Staff to the Minister of Communication and Digital for Youth and Startups This conveyed the statement during an Editorial Discussion (DIKSI) with national media editors held by the Media Ecosystem Directorate, Directorate General of Public Communication and Media, Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi), in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/7/2026).
Alfreno explained that biometric registration is part of the “Terjaga” pillar in the development direction of Digital Indonesia 2025–2029, which carries three main focuses: Connected, Growing, and Terjaga (T3).
While the “Connected” pillar focuses on equitable digital connectivity, including the development of fiber optic networks extending to villages, the “Guarded” pillar is directed at strengthening the security of the national digital ecosystem.
He said strengthening digital security is an urgent need because the threat of cybercrime continues to increase.
Based on data compiled by the Illegal Financial Activities Task Force, together with the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and various related institutions, losses due to digital crime reached approximately IDR 9.1 trillion by January 2026.
“This situation is very detrimental to the public. Therefore, the government has chosen a preventative approach, one of which is through biometric-based SIM card registration,” he said.
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He explained that Minister of Communication and Digital Regulation Number 7 of 2026 concerning Registration of Telecommunication Service Customers Through Cellular Mobile Networks regulate this policy, which requires a “know your customer” (KYC) process using biometric verification.
According to Alfreno, this system is an improvement on the SIM card registration mechanism, which since 2017 has relied on verification using the National Identification Number (NIK) and Family Card (KK).
Despite its initial effectiveness, identity theft practices have still been discovered, including the use of personal data for SIM card registration.
“With biometrics, a user’s identity is verified by matching their face with the population data stored at the Civil Registration Office (Dukcapil), thus minimizing identity theft,” he said.
He added that the biometric system has a minimum accuracy rate of 95 percent in matching facial data with the population database.
This verification can ensure that the SIM card is actually used by the legitimate owner.
Furthermore, the new policy requires every mobile operator to provide a complaint mechanism for customers.
Through this service, people can check whether any phone numbers are registered using their identities without their knowledge.
“If misuse is discovered, the operator is required to block the number within a maximum of 24 hours,” he explained.
Alfreno believes that the implementation of biometrics is a practice that has been adopted by various countries in Asia, such as Malaysia, Thailand, and China, in response to technological developments and the increasing threat of digital crime.
“The government must keep up with global technological developments to provide better protection to the public,” he said.
Meanwhile, Farida Dewi Maharani, Director of the Media Ecosystem at the Directorate General of Public Communication and Media at the Kemkomdigi, stated that biometric registration is not merely a digitalization of the SIM card registration process, but rather part of an effort to build a more secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem.
She mentioned that the policy can strengthen the protection of people’s personal data and prevent identity theft.
The policy, she added, can also increase accountability for mobile phone number usage, narrow the scope for digital criminals, and increase public trust in the national digital transformation.
