MPR urges child data protection after alleged misuse for education database

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Lestari Moerdijat has urged stronger efforts to protect children’s personal data in response to alleged data misuse involving registration in the national education database (Dapodik). The case came to light after a number of parents complained on social media that their children’s names and national identity numbers (NIK) had been registered at early childhood education (PAUD) institutions they had never attended. “This incident shows that population data which should be protected can instead be misused. This is a consequence of a lack of understanding and oversight in personal data management,” she said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday. Lestari, who is also a member of House of Representatives Commission X, urged the government to immediately increase public awareness campaigns about the need to maintain the confidentiality of personal data, especially NIK and family cards (KK). According to her, personal data protection literacy in the digital era must become a priority agenda. “The public, especially parents, need to be educated not to carelessly provide personal data and to proactively check their children’s data status on the official website of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education,” she said. The education sector legislator also stressed the importance of expanding access to quality PAUD services, noting that the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) recorded that around 20,000 of Indonesia’s 82,000 villages still lack PAUD services. “Equitable distribution of PAUD must be accompanied by transparent and accountable data governance, so that children receive proper educational services and their rights are protected,” she added. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) is currently verifying and tracing the information to ascertain the actual facts and chronology. Director General of Early Childhood, Primary, and Non-formal and Informal Education Gogot Suharwoto said his agency is handling the information seriously by prioritising caution and objectivity. “If misuse of access or violations of Dapodik governance are found, Kemendikdasmen will follow up in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” he said in Jakarta on Wednesday. The ministry explained that inputting student data into Dapodik can only be done by educational units through official accounts and must be based on student admission documents and administrative processes. Kemendikdasmen will take firm action if the investigation finds any misuse of access, improper use of personal data, or violations of Dapodik governance. Gogot said that handling of such violations will be carried out in accordance with laws and regulations and in coordination with relevant ministries, agencies, and law enforcement officials.