Biometric SIM registration is voluntary for existing users: Ministry

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has clarified that SIM card registration via biometric verification remains voluntary for existing mobile numbers.

The biometric registration requirement currently applies only to new mobile numbers activated after the policy took effect on July 1, 2026.

"It is not mandatory yet for existing numbers. For now, it is voluntary," Dany Suwardany, the ministry's Director of Digital Ecosystem Control, said during a discussion panel in Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to Dany, the ministry is still evaluating the implementation of the policy before deciding whether to extend the requirement to existing mobile numbers.

Although optional, he explained that biometric verification provides stronger protection against identity theft and the misuse of personal data.

Users who register their SIM cards through biometric verification can also ask their mobile operators to verify whether their National Identification Number (NIK) has been used to register other phone numbers without their authorization.

If they discover that their identity has been misused, customers may request the operator to deactivate the unauthorized number.

Starting July 1, 2026, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs requires all new prepaid SIM card registrations in Indonesia to use biometric verification, replacing the previous registration method that relied solely on the National Identification Number (NIK).

Director General of Digital Ecosystems Edwin Abdullah said the policy is part of the government's broader effort to combat identity theft in SIM card registration and curb cybercrime.

Edwin also urged all telecommunications operators to fully implement the regulation, stressing that its effectiveness depends on their full cooperation.

Related news: Biometric-based SIM registration to limit digital fraud: Ministry

Translator: Farhan Arda, Raka Adji

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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