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IT experts welcome QR code tracking of foreigners
Information Technology and cybersecurity experts welcome the idea of establishing a surveillance system on foreigners, but at the same time recommend exercising caution on its implementation over privacy concerns.
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Information Technology and cybersecurity experts welcome the idea of establishing a surveillance system on foreigners, but at the same time recommend exercising caution on its implementation over privacy concerns.
IT security specialist Alfons Tanujaya said attaching a QR Code to foreigners' passports or visas was positive if it was meant to protect them while in Indonesia.
“It can be useful for foreigners if they are in a situation that threatens their safety. The authorities could quickly reach them [...] they will be more secure when such situations occur," Alfons told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
He was referring to a plan by the Immigration Directorate General to launch a surveillance system to track foreigners in Indonesia. The directorate general is waiting for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s approval for its implementation.
Alfons, however, said the government should not promote the policy as a tool to detect their movement so that foreigners do not feel spied upon.
He said establishing a separate QR code tracking system was not the only mechanism to detect foreigners’ movements.
“We have an e-passport that has a hidden and encrypted QR Code. A separate QR Code tracking system is only one of a number of ways,” Alfons said.
Indonesia Cyber Security Forum (ICSF) chairman and cofounder Ardi Sutedja said the policy could be a double-edged sword, noting that it could be beneficial for foreigners, but on the other hand it could also make them uncomfortable as it related to their data protection and privacy.
"QR codes can be used for track and trace movements and this will clearly disturb those who come from countries with mature and compliant data protection. For me, it's best not to do it. Although we have many attractive tourist destinations, the data and privacy issues are important,” Ardi told the Post also on Wednesday.
Law and Human Rights Ministry Immigration Director General Jhoni Ginting said in a hearing with House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense on Tuesday that the system was being developed in part to respond to cases of foreign fugitives escaping to Indonesia.
"We are developing a QR code system so we can track foreigners. We’re waiting for the President to sign the regulation," Jhoni said.
The QR code will later be attached to foreigners' passports or visas and detect their movement by tracking their transactions in public facilities, such as hotels and restaurants, and ticket purchases for public transportation.
The QR code system will be introduced to public service offices so that immigration authorities can monitor their movement.
Subdistrict offices will also install the program to monitor foreigners and coordinate with village heads, police chiefs, military district command chiefs and heads of neighborhood units (RTs) and community units (RWs).
The immigration office’s effort to establish close cooperation with representatives of different government institutions is in line with Jokowi’s Nawacita, a nine-point development program in which the government strives to enforce immigration laws more strictly to boost foreign direct investment.
To strengthen its supervisory functions, the immigration office has been coordinating with different ministries and institutions at the central government level, such as the Indonesian Military, the National Police, the Home Ministry, the Attorney General’s Office and the Manpower Ministry.
