Nezar: Biometric Mobile Number Registration Data Not Stored by Operators

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital (Wamenkomdigi) Nezar Patria has stated that biometric data for mobile number registration is not stored by mobile operators but remains with the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to him, the implementation of biometric mobile number registration involves Dukcapil because all biometric data of citizens — including fingerprints, facial recognition and retinal scans — is managed and stored by that institution.

“Mobile operators do not take data from Dukcapil. Dukcapil stores the biometric data, and this is also to minimise data breaches,” said Nezar during a podcast at the Antara Heritage Centre in Jakarta on Tuesday.

In the process of registering a new number, prospective subscribers will undergo a facial verification stage. The facial scan data is then sent directly to be matched against Dukcapil’s records.

“From the outset, it must be protected. That is why multiple layers have been built into the identity confirmation process for consumers registering with mobile operators for SIM cards,” said Nezar.

Nezar explained that the biometric-based mobile number registration policy is designed to reduce the potential for cybercrime, particularly spam calls and online fraud.

The potential losses to the public from online fraud could reach up to Rp9 trillion. With biometric implementation, the consumer identification process is considered to be more accurate and accountable.

Nezar assessed that biometric data is one of the most valid forms of identity to ensure that a mobile number is genuinely linked to the legitimate owner’s identity.

“With biometrics, we hope that the consumer identification process can be carried out more accurately and more accountably. As such, we consider biometric data to be the most valid data,” he said.