Stop Photocopying E-KTP to Protect Personal Data

Member of the House of Representatives’ Second Commission, Ahmad Heryawan, has praised the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil) for urging all government and private institutions to cease photocopying electronic identity cards (E-KTP) in administrative services. The man commonly known as Aher described the directive as a crucial step to strengthen personal data protection, while also accelerating the shift towards safer, modern, and efficient digital public services. “This Dukcapil move is timely as personal data protection must be a top priority in the digital age. Photocopying E-KTP has long posed significant risks of misuse if not handled securely,” Aher stated in a written release on Sunday (31 May). Previously, Dukcapil Director General Teguh Setyabudi explained that E-KTP cards are equipped with an electronic data chip designed to be read by card readers, ensuring secure personal data and accurate identity verification. This system transformation is being driven through inter-ministerial collaboration to shift all public service ecosystems to automatic digital data integration. The use of this technology is a key part of the country’s bureaucratic reform. “Public services must move towards automatic digital data integration so citizens are no longer burdened by repeatedly submitting administrative documents. Therefore, the state must provide simple, secure, and integrated systems,” said the Chairman of the DPR’s People’s Aspiration Body (BAM). The former two-term West Java governor voiced support for inter-ministerial and institutional collaboration to responsibly manage population data in line with national cyber security principles. Data integration is expected to enhance public service efficiency and reduce data breach risks. Aher urged all institutions—from banking and healthcare to education and the private sector—to promptly adjust their service systems to comply with Dukcapil’s new policy. “Population administration digitisation must be accompanied by strengthened system security and education for all service institutions to ensure the transformation is effective and trusted by the public. With integrated and secure systems, citizens will receive faster, easier, and protected services,” Aher concluded. (Faj/P-3)