Observer proposes biometric SIM registration also apply to existing numbers
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Telecommunications observer Heru Sutugi has proposed that the government should not only implement biometric-based SIM card registration rules for new telecommunications service customers but also gradually mandate data updates for long-active mobile number users.
“The current biometric policy is mostly applied to new SIM registrations. Meanwhile, millions of old numbers are still using unupdated data,” said Heru when contacted by ANTARA from Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to him, the government needs to prepare a gradual biometric-based re-registration programme for existing customers so that all telecommunications service customer data can be updated and verified using the same mechanism. If data updates are not performed, the registration data for old mobile numbers cannot be refreshed.
This situation creates a risk of identity misuse for telecommunications users who registered their SIM cards using the old mechanism. He noted that in several cases, SIM cards have expired or changed ownership, yet the numbers remain active on instant messaging applications and are being utilised by others.
“This loophole is frequently exploited for fraud,” said the Executive Director of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Institute.
Therefore, he urged the Ministry of Communication and Digital to increase coordination with digital platform providers and instant messaging applications to build a user data synchronisation mechanism. According to Heru, accounts linked to phone numbers that have been inactive for a certain period need to be re-verified or deactivated to prevent misuse.
He stated that biometric-based SIM card registration is a positive step towards enhancing telecommunications service security, but it must be accompanied by other policies to combat digital crime. “Eradicating digital fraud requires a more comprehensive approach, ranging from updating customer data and protecting personal data to cooperating with digital platforms and increasing public literacy,” said Heru.
The implementation of these new rules is intended to protect the public from the misuse of mobile numbers and digital crimes such as online fraud, spam calls, and phishing.
The Director General of the Digital Ecosystem at the Ministry of Communication and Digital, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, stated that the implementation of the rules will focus on new number registration first. According to him, the government needs to evaluate infrastructure readiness and system reliability before deciding whether a similar mechanism will also be applied to existing telecommunications service customers.