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Register your SIM card to keep nation safe from cybercrime
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Photo courtesy of Communications and Information Ministry
T
he government is working to protect the public from cybercrimes by making it mandatory for all mobile phone users with prepaid SIM cards to register their number or numbers on a national database.
The Communication and Information Ministry is working with the Home Ministry’s Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration and telecommunications operators throughout the country to ensure that everyone with a prepaid SIM card takes part in the registration process.
According to the Jakarta Police's Special Crimes Research unit, 785 cybercrime incidents were reported in 2014, of which 404 cases involved fraud, including fraud perpetrated via text messages.
Having all of the nation's 360 million prepaid mobile phone numbers registered on a national database will go a long way toward preventing such crimes. After all, there is no way of accurately identifying the individual who uses a particular mobile phone number.
It should also be noted that the current population of Indonesia is 261 million. In other words, many people across the archipelago use more than one active mobile phone number.
"We've found that some people have even used 123456 or James Bond as the names registered with their cell phone number. Do we really have 360 million actual cell phone users? How many of these numbers use fake names and fake data? The data cannot be verified," said Merza Fachys, chairman of Indonesian Cellular Telecommunications Association (ATSI).
To counter the very real threat of cybercrime, all prepaid mobile phone numbers are to be registered between Oct. 31, 2017 and Feb. 28, 2018, using the user’s identity card (NIK) and family card (KK) numbers.
According to Ahmad Ramli, the director general for post and informatics technology at the communications ministry, the public was enthusiastic about taking part in the registration.
As of Nov. 7 at noon, 46,559,400 prepaid mobile phone numbers had been registered.
"This demonstrates the public's enormous enthusiasm and support for this program," Ahmad said during Tuesday’s Forum Merdeka Barat 9 media gathering on the SIM card registration.
"It also helps counteract the rumors circulating that this registration requirement is only a hoax," he added, referring to the inaccurate information that spread last week. One claimed that the SIM card registration was not mandatory, while another said that Oct. 31 was the last day for registering.
The focus on prepaid SIM cards is intentional. According to global digital agency We Are Social, 98 percent of the country's mobile phone subscribers were prepaid customers as of January 2017.
The ministry requires that both NIK and KK numbers are provided in registering a prepaid mobile phone number.
Those that have already registered using only their NIK number are required to send their KK number by text message to 4444.
Ahmad said, however, that people should be aware that they might encounter problems when registering their numbers by text message or through online facilities, because of the high number of people trying to register at the same time.
“Don’t worry, there is still time until next February. You should follow the instructions if you are unable to register successfully,” he said.
In addition to registration by SMS, cellular service operators Indosat, XL Axiata (XL), Telkomsel, Hutchison 3 Indonesia (Tri) and Smartfren have opened online registration facilities on their official websites. These facilities require users to input the numbers of both their identity cards (NIK) and family cards (KK).
The SMS and online registration services are free of charge. XL, Indosat and Tri subscribers can also visit the operators’ service kiosks to register in person. Telkomsel subscribers can seek assistance from its call center without having to visit the service kiosks.
Indonesian Telecommunications Regulatory Body (BRTI) commissioner I Ketut Prihadi Kresna sees tremendous potential for the country’s citizens. He said the mandatory registration of mobile phone numbers was a positive step in capturing this golden opportunity.
"It will allow the circulation of hoaxes, fraud and other, similar activities to be reported easily, and it will allow the authorities to more easily discover the perpetrators’ identities," Kresna said.
Foreigners residing in Indonesia, meanwhile, must bring their passport, temporary stay permit (KITAS) or permanent stay permit (KITAP) to their mobile operator’s service center and register their phone number.
The public has until Feb. 28 to register the numbers of their prepaid SIM cards. Those who fail to meet this deadline will have their cell phone services blocked in phases, and their numbers will be fully blocked if they have not registered by Apr. 28, 2018.
