Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs Stresses SIM Card Registration Must Not Use Others' Data

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) has stressed that SIM card registration using biometric verification methods must not utilise another person’s identity data. This statement was made by Director General of Digital Ecosystem Edwin Hidayat Abdullah after discovering the misuse of biometric-based SIM card registration practices by vendors. Although all operators have implemented registration using facial recognition, there are still unscrupulous individuals who activate SIM cards using their own biometrics before selling them to customers. “There are still those who try to game the system. The card is activated with their face, then handed to the customer, and after the customer uses it, it gets unregistered,” Edwin said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Monday. He emphasised that such practices by vendors are prohibited because the owner has used someone else’s data, resulting in the mobile number not being registered under the actual user’s name. “These are practices in the field that must be observed. We are now in an era of honesty; what we use must be under our own name,” Edwin stated. Field checks indicate that many parties have already complied with the biometric registration rules. Edwin expressed hope that those who have not yet complied will soon adjust to the regulations. “There are already more who comply than those who do not, but we hope the non-compliant ones will gradually disappear so we can operate more effectively,” Edwin said. Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid revealed that from January to July, 6.8 million people had completed biometric registration. Meutya explained that the implementation of biometric verification for SIM card registration aims to enhance the security of citizens’ identities while supporting efforts to prevent digital crimes that exploit personal data.