1.2 Million NIKs Stolen in Central Java, Ombudsman Urges Social and Digital Agencies to Fix Digital Security Systems

SEMARANG – Siti Farida, head of the Ombudsman’s Central Java office, has urged the Central Java Social Affairs Office (Dinsos) and the Communications, Informatics and Digital Affairs Office (Diskomdigi) to improve their digital security systems. The call follows the hacking and theft of 1.2 million National Identity Numbers (NIK) belonging to residents classified as poor in Central Java.

“In our view, the Social Affairs Office, together with Diskomdigi, must above all improve their level of security, whether for websites, web pages, or other applications,” Farida said when asked about the case of the stolen 1.2 million NIKs belonging to poor residents in Central Java on Wednesday (15/7/2026).

She added that the theft of more than 1.2 million NIKs should serve as a warning to the Central Java Social Affairs and Digital Communications offices. “So the Social Affairs Office’s website, including its various subsidiary applications, must really have their security levels assured,” she said.

According to Farida, for accountability there needs to be clarity on which individuals or residents feel they have been harmed. “If we want to be truly fair, then simply open a complaint post for residents to submit complaints or reports if their data has indeed been misused,” she said.

Farida also urged an internal examination at the Central Java Social Affairs Office, to determine whether there were failures in operational procedures that ultimately led to the hacking and theft of the NIKs.

“Because this relates to digitalisation, in our view there needs to be collaboration with the Digital Communications Office,” she said.

“What is most important going forward is ensuring that all of that data is safe,” Farida added.