When Data Becomes Feared
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has announced that data collection for the 2026 Economic Census has reached 86 percent. Deputy for Balance Sheets and Statistical Analysis Moh. Edy Mahmud conveyed this achievement on Friday (7/8/2026). The figure certainly indicates significant progress. However, behind this achievement lies an intriguing issue: why are some members of the public still reluctant, fearful, or even suspicious when census officers visit?
This question became relevant during a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) held by BPS regarding the 2026 Economic Census, where various stories emerged about public responses to data collection. Among lower-income communities, for instance, concerns are still found when census officers arrive. Some residents associate the data collection with taxation, social assistance, or other administrative matters. Interestingly, this issue is not confined to the lower economic strata. Educated groups are also not entirely receptive to the data collection process.
The Head of BPS for West Java Province, Margaretha Ari Anggorowati, recounted a notable incident. An upper-class resident, when approached by census officers, used a bucket to retrieve the census form from the officers who were below. The resident did this out of suspicion and chose to maintain a physical distance. At first glance, the story of the bucket sounds amusing. Yet, from a communication perspective, there is a more serious issue behind it. The bucket becomes a symbol of distance—not just physical distance, but also a psychological gap between the public and those requesting data. Behind such actions lies a simple question: who is asking for my data, what will it be used for, and is it safe? This question is, in fact, entirely reasonable.
The Economic Census is not a new activity for Indonesia. BPS has been conducting it since 1986, carried out every ten years in years ending with the number six. The 2026 Economic Census is the fifth iteration, following those in 1986, 1996, 2006, and 2016. Over four decades, the economic census has been an integral part of the government’s effort to obtain a picture of the structure and characteristics of the Indonesian economy. With such a long history, the census should be a relatively well-known activity. However, field experience shows the matter is not that simple. There are still members of the public who feel worried when officers visit, and some even choose to keep their distance when asked to provide data. This is where the question about the census shifts. It is no longer just about how the government collects data, but how the government builds trust so that the public is willing to provide data.
The public’s caution towards data does not emerge from a vacuum. In recent years, people have increasingly heard about various forms of crime that exploit personal data and information. Phone numbers, identities, financial information, addresses, and other personal details can be used for fraud, manipulation, identity theft, and various digital crimes. Therefore, a public that is cautious about providing data does not necessarily fail to understand the importance of a census. It may well indicate that they are increasingly aware that data has both value and risk. This shift in perspective is crucial for data-collecting institutions to understand. Today’s public no longer views data as something ordinary. Data can be used to help someone, but it can also be used to harm someone if it falls into the wrong hands or is used inconsistently with its original purpose.
Law Number 27 of 2022 concerning Personal Data Protection also demonstrates this shift. Personal data is placed as something that must be protected. Its processing must have a clear basis, be carried out in a limited and purpose-specific manner, be transparent, and be protected from unauthorised access or disclosure. Thus, when the public asks questions about data, these questions should not immediately be considered a form of distrust or ignorance. They may well be a form of the public’s new awareness of the importance of data. Herein lies the data paradox. The state increasingly needs data to produce more precise policies, but the public is also increasingly aware that the data they provide has value and must be protected. The greater the need for data, the greater the need to build trust.
For BPS, a census is a statistical process involving methodology, instruments, officers, procedures, validation, processing, and analysis. However, for the public, a census presents itself in a much simpler form: an officer comes to the house, knocks on the door, and then asks for a number of pieces of information. The officer brings a questionnaire. The public brings their perception. If the public trusts, they will be more willing to provide information. If the public is suspicious, they will ask questions and limit the information they give. In communication studies, there is a notion that when a person faces an uncertain situation, they will seek information to reduce that uncertainty. The same thing happens when a census officer arrives. Who is this officer? Why am I being surveyed? What will my data be used for? Will it be linked to taxes? Who can see this data? If these questions are not answered, uncertainty can turn into suspicion. Therefore, communication about the census cannot simply be about conveying that the census is important. Communication must be able to answer the questions that live in the public’s mind.