Ensuring Data Security, Targeted Policies Through the 2026 Economic Census

The government is undertaking one of the largest statistical agendas of the past decade: the 2026 Economic Census (SE). Through door-to-door data collection, the government is attempting to redraw a comprehensive “map” of the Indonesian economy.

The census, conducted by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) once every ten years, is not merely about counting the number of businesses. More than that, SE2026 serves as a foundation for the government to strengthen the transformation of national data governance, so that every development decision is supported by accurate information.

As public participation in the 2026 Economic Census increases, the government is also continuing to correct various misconceptions about the census’s purpose.

BPS head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti assured that all information provided by the public is guaranteed to remain confidential and will only be used for national statistical purposes.

According to Amalia, this guarantee is mandated by law, which requires BPS to protect the confidentiality of respondents’ data. During data collection, the National Identity Number (NIK) is used solely to verify identity through the system of the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil) to ensure the quality of the statistical data.

“We will safeguard the confidentiality and security of personal data. Our officers will not photograph NIKs, identity cards, or family cards. Data is only matched against the Dukcapil system. And most importantly, this is an economic census, not a tax census,” Amalia said during the FMB9 Dialogue themed ‘One Indonesian Data and BPS Credibility’ on Monday (20/7).

Amalia added that the commitment to data security is also part of the government’s effort to build public trust, since the quality of the resulting policies depends heavily on the quality of information obtained from the public.

“I guarantee that the data provided will be kept confidential, because under Law No. 16 of 1997, BPS is required to protect data confidentiality,” said Kadarmanto at the event, monitored in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Amalia continued that SE2026, which began on 15 June, has so far recorded progress of more than 50 per cent nationally. Data collection will continue until 31 August 2026, involving around 251,000 officers who have received nationally standardised training.

The census covers all economic activities, from ultra-micro enterprises, small stalls, and grocers’ shops to large industries, as well as new business models emerging in the digital era such as online selling and content creation.

A complete picture of these economic activities is expected to equip the government in formulating policies that are more adaptive to changing times.

Amalia stressed that the success of the census depends not only on the readiness of officers but also on public participation. According to her, honestly provided data will produce increasingly well-targeted policies.

“The accuracy of census data starts with respondents. Please provide truthful information, because if the data is wrong, the resulting policies may also miss the mark,” she said.

To ensure the quality of the results, the government is applying a layered oversight system. Data collected by field officers will undergo checks starting from supervisors, sub-district coordinators, regency/city BPS offices, provincial BPS offices, up to the national level before becoming part of the official database.

Accurate Data as the Foundation of Policy

Meanwhile, Fithra Faisal Hastiadi, Principal Expert at the Presidential Communication Office (Bakom), said that accurate statistical data is a crucial foundation for the government in formulating public policy.

Therefore, public participation in the Economic Census is key to ensuring that development programmes genuinely match needs on the ground.

He likened the census to a medical check-up. A doctor can only provide the right treatment if they obtain complete information about the patient’s condition. The same principle applies to formulating economic policy, which requires accurate data as the basis for decision-making.

“If we want government policy to hit the mark, we must have a strong statistical foundation. The economic census is not for tax purposes, but to understand the real state of the economy so the government can deliver policies that suit people’s needs,” Fithra said.

According to him, statistical data has underpinned various government policies, including the design of economic stimulus when businesses faced pressure from production costs. Therefore, the quality of data collected from the public greatly determines the accuracy of the policies the government adopts.

Fithra expressed hope that the public will not be easily swayed by misleading information about the census. He noted that BPS has long enjoyed credibility recognised both domestically and internationally, so the public need not hesitate to participate.

“What the government and BPS are doing is to empower the public. The government wants to make policy based on correct data. Therefore, people need not worry — provide honest data and let BPS keep it confidential,” he said.

Through public participation and accurate data, the 2026 Economic Census is expected to become the foundation for policies that are increasingly on target, adaptive, and capable of driving inclusive economic growth across Indonesia.