Biometric Registration of SIM Cards Officially Valid, All Customer Data is in Dukcapil

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Communication and Digital officially implemented the registration of new SIM cards using face recognition biometrics through the Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Digital (Permen Komdigi) Number 7 of 2026.

The Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Meutya Hafid, stated that the presence of this biometric-based registration is designed to break the chain of digital crimes that are worth trillions of rupiah.

He revealed that during November 2024 to early 2026, losses due to digital fraud were recorded at Rp9.1 trillion. In addition, around 22 percent or more than 50 million internet users in Indonesia are reported to have been victims of fraud in the digital space.

Meutya also emphasized that the biometric data of customers is not stored by mobile operators, but by the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil) of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Meanwhile, mobile operators only act as intermediaries for verification without storing customer face data.

The Chairman of the Association of All Indonesian Telecommunications Operators (ATSI), Dian Siswarini, said that biometric registration can be done through various channels.

Starting from the prospective customer's mobile phone, the operator's website or e-channel, to the outlet and registration machine. The verification process is claimed to take less than five minutes.

"So actually this registration can be done anywhere, both on the customer's mobile phone to register or it can also be at the outlets," explained Dian.

This biometric registration policy is mandatory for new SIM cards, although it is currently still being carried out hybridly. It is hoped that biometric registration can be fully implemented for 6 months from the time this Regulation comes into force, which is likely to be in early July.

However, Meutya suggested that the operator should provide an option for old customers to update their data, to ensure that no other number uses their NIK without their knowledge.