Minister Guarantees Security of User Data Amid New Mobile Number Re-Registration Initiative
Jakarta. The government has guaranteed the security of mobile users’ personal data following its new policy forcing users to re-register their prepaid numbers, which will begin on Oct. 31 and end on Feb. 28, 2018, a minister said on Tuesday (31/10).
The ministry will force mobile phone users to re-register their numbers and provide complete personal data, including birth dates and personal ID card numbers. Foreigners will be forced to register their passport numbers in lieu of an Indonesian ID card.
However, the Indonesian Consumer Protection Foundation (YLKI) has warned about potential data breaches if the government follows through on its plan to force all mobile numbers to re-register with telecommunications providers.
"The government, through the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, issued a ministerial regulation on the protection of personal data in 2016 to ensure the security of user data," ICT Minister Rudiantara said.The regulation, Ministerial Regulation No. 20 of 2016 on the Protection of Personal Data in Electronic Systems, covers a wide range of activities related to the protection of personal data, including the acquisition, collection, transmission, dissemination and destruction of personal information.
Under the regulation, every electronic system used to collect and analyze data must be certified and comply with several core principles, including a stipulation that requires personal data to be treated as confidential information and based on written consent.
If an individual fails to register, according to a previous statement, their numbers will be blocked. Service providers will start blocking outgoing calls and short message services, followed by incoming calls and all messages, as well as internet services.
Rudiantara said the purpose of the new policy is to improve quality and service for customers and protect them from fraud."The [registration] process takes no more than a minute, but will provide convenience to all consumers," he said.
The minister said earlier that about 47 million prepaid mobile phone cards were re-registered and verified by mobile telecommunication providers as of Monday.
The number of active mobile phone subscriptions exceeds the country's population of 250 million by more than 50 million.
Tags: Keywords: