Facial biometrics now the sole method for new SIM card registration

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) has confirmed that registration of new prepaid SIM cards now relies solely on facial biometric verification linked to the national population database.

Director of Digital Ecosystem Control at Kemkomdigi, Dany Suwardany, said that no mobile operators remain able to accommodate public registration of new SIM cards using the NIK (national identity number) and family card (KK) number mechanism.

“Since the full implementation of biometric registration, registration using NIK and KK numbers has been automatically and permanently closed by Dukcapil. Currently, mobile operators can no longer accommodate the public using that conventional mechanism,” Dany told ANTARA on Tuesday.

To prevent recurrence and close loopholes for data misuse, the government has completely shut off access to the NIK and KK number verification method, making facial biometric verification the only way for the public to obtain a new SIM card.

After nearly two months of nationwide implementation, Dany said no obstacles have been found in registering new SIM cards using facial biometric verification. For people aged 17 and above, all new prepaid SIM registrations have proceeded smoothly and successfully.

The system was developed because SIM card registration for Indonesians under 17 years of age can currently only be represented by the biometrics of the head of family or guardian, and does not yet use facial biometrics directly from the relevant SIM card user.

With this achievement, it means the facial biometric verification system for new SIM card registration in Indonesia is running smoothly.