Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid stated that from January to July 2026, 6.8 million people registered their SIM cards using biometric verification, verifying their identity using facial recognition when activating their mobile phone numbers.
"From January to July, 6.8 million people have completed biometric registration," he said at the OJK Banking Forum 2026 at the Bank Indonesia office complex.
Meutya stated that the implementation of biometric data-based verification methods in SIM card registration aims to improve the security of citizens' identity data and support the prevention of misuse of personal data for digital crime.
According to him, the identity verification procedure for users of telecommunications services is similar to the verification process for users of digital banking services using mobile phones.
"We use biometrics similar to what banks do, but we don't allow cellular operators to store data," Meutya said.
"So, all data must be cross-checked with the Civil Registration and Civil Registration Department, and customer data must not be stored at all," he said, referring to matching mobile service user data with the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration database.
