Data Security Key to AI Adoption, Strong Authentication Deemed Crucial

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly penetrating various aspects of Indonesian society. As the use of this technology expands, the need to maintain data security is becoming increasingly urgent.

Data protection can no longer be defined solely as an effort to prevent leaks. It must also be ensured that data cannot be misused by unauthorised parties. Therefore, strong authentication is considered a vital element in building a secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem.

This urgency was a key focus for the Deputy Minister of Communication and Discretion of the Republic of Indonesia, Nezar Patria, during his keynote speech at the Garuda AI Impact Summit 2026. Nezar emphasised that current AI challenges relate not only to technology but also encompass digital literacy, public trust, and the readiness of society to utilise technology responsibly.

According to Nezar, future disparities will no longer only occur between the digitally connected and unconnected. A gap may also emerge between those capable of using AI productively and those left behind by this transformation.

During the same event, the Founder and Group CEO of VIDA, Niki Luhur, assessed that the success of AI adoption depends heavily on public trust in the security of the technologies used. He shared this view during a panel discussion titled ‘AI for Digital Public Services’.

Niki noted that public trust can only grow if security and convenience run hand in hand within every digital service. “Digital transformation does not have to sacrifice security for convenience, or vice versa. With proper system design and architecture, both can work in tandem,” said Niki.

Niki illustrated how ransomware actors use cryptography to encrypt and lock data, making it unusable for the owners. A similar principle, he suggested, can be applied to data protection to ensure important information is not easily exploited by others.

“If fraudsters use cryptography to lock our data, then we need to lock the data first so that others cannot use it,” Niki added.

Once data is secured, agencies must also ensure that access to data is controlled through strong authentication systems. Niki emphasised that such systems must be able to determine who is authorised to access data, who holds the keys to unlock access, and how every instance of access usage can be tracked.

With this approach, data is not only technically protected but can also only be used by parties that possess legitimate authority.

Authentication is crucial because almost 95% of global data breaches and cybersecurity incidents are said to stem from weak authentication systems. In the context of digital services, authentication can no longer rely solely on a user’s personal data.

If personal data has been leaked, that information is no longer sufficient to prove that the person accessing the account is indeed the owner. Furthermore, AI-based fraud methods now target not only faces and voices but also devices, networks, and user behaviour.

Niki also expressed appreciation for the government’s steps in building the foundation for a national digital identity ecosystem. According to him, Indonesia already possesses identity verification standards that refer to global practices and continue to evolve through adaptive regulatory support.

He is optimistic that AI can be a game changer for digital security, provided its implementation is accelerated and supported by the right systems.

“I am optimistic that AI can be a game changer for digital security. The technology exists, the standards exist, and regulations are continuously evolving. What is needed now is the acceleration of implementation,” Niki concluded.