Expert says biometric verification for mobile SIM cards suitable for user identification
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Cybersecurity expert Pratama Persadha stated that the biometric verification policy for mobile SIM card registration is a suitable step for identifying user identities.
The man, who is also a lecturer at the State Intelligence College (STIN), said this verification method is suitable if used to replace verification based on the National Identity Number (NIK) or Family Card Number, data from which is already widely scattered in the digital space.
“Biometrics presents a much stronger authentication factor because what is verified is not just something a person knows, but biological characteristics inherent to the individual,” Pratama told ANTARA on Friday.
In many digital fraud cases in Indonesia, telephone numbers serve as the primary identity of the perpetrators. These criminals often use other people’s data to obtain prepaid SIM cards.
Therefore, if this biometric verification method is implemented correctly, it should minimise identity falsification of mobile number owners that occurs due to loopholes in the previously applied verification system.
“This condition will have a positive impact on law enforcement because every telephone number will have a higher level of identity linkage than before. The digital forensic investigation process will also become easier because the quality of customer identity data improves,” said Pratama.
“Biometric data is different from a password. If a password is leaked, it can be changed, whereas a person’s fingerprint or face remains the same throughout their life. Therefore, if a biometric data leak occurs, the risk posed is far greater and can last a lifetime,” he said.
Furthermore, if the focus is on minimising the growth of digital fraud, then biometric verification should not be relied upon as the sole method and must be complemented with other strategies.
“A national strategy will be far more effective if biometrics are integrated with artificial intelligence-based suspicious behaviour detection, real-time monitoring of mass registrations, limiting the number of SIMs that can be owned by one identity, a rapid fraudster number reporting system, and close collaboration between telecommunications operators, banks, law enforcement, and regulators,” said Pratama.
It was previously reported that the Government will implement regulations regarding biometric data-based SIM card registration starting 1 July 2026.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs stated that preparations for implementing the biometric data-based SIM card registration system have entered the final stage.
Director General of Digital Ecosystem at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, said the implementation of the regulation will initially focus on new number registrations. He added that the government needs to evaluate infrastructure readiness and system reliability before deciding whether a similar mechanism will be applied to existing telecommunications service customers.