Guarantee Data Security, Targeted Policy through the 2026 Economic Census

Head of BPS Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti. (Photo: Dok. FMB9)

JAKARTA - The government is carrying out one of the largest statistical agendas in the last decade, namely the 2026 Economic Census (SE). Through the process of data collection from house to house, the government is trying to re-draw the "map" of the Indonesian economy in a comprehensive manner.

The census held by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) every 10 years is not just counting the number of business actors. More than that, SE2026 becomes the foundation for the government to strengthen the transformation of national data governance, so that every development decision is supported by accurate information.

As the public's participation in the implementation of the 2026 Economic Census increases, the government also continues to straighten out various inaccurate information regarding the purpose of the census.

BPS Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti ensured that all information provided by the public was guaranteed confidentiality and was only used for national statistical purposes.

According to Amalia, the guarantee is a mandate of the Law which requires the BPS to maintain the confidentiality of respondent data. In the data collection process, the National Identification Number (NIK) is only used to verify identity through the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil) system to ensure the quality of statistical data.

"We will keep personal data confidential and secure. Our officers will not take photos of NIK, KTP or family cards. Data is only matched with the Dukcapil system. And most importantly, this is an economic census, not a tax census," said Amalia in the FMB9 Dialogue entitled "One Indonesian Data and BPS Credibility", Monday, July 20.

Then, said Amalia, the commitment to maintain the security of the data is also part of the government's efforts to build public trust. Because, the quality of the policies that will be produced depends very much on the quality of information obtained from the community.

"I guarantee that the data that will be provided will be guaranteed confidentiality, because BPS is in accordance with Law Number 16 of 1997, it must be maintained (data confidentiality)," said Kadarmanto.

Amalia continued, until now the implementation of SE2026 which started since June 15 has recorded progress of more than 50 percent nationally. Data collection will continue until August 31, 2026 by involving approximately 251 thousand officers who have received national standard training.

This census covers all economic activities, ranging from ultra-micro businesses, stalls, grocery stores, large industries, to new business models that are developing in the digital era such as online sales and content creators.

A complete picture of economic activity is expected to be a resource for the government in formulating policies that are more adaptive to changes in time.

Amalia emphasized that the success of the census not only depends on the readiness of officers, but also the participation of the community. According to him, data that is delivered honestly will produce policies that are increasingly targeted.

"The accuracy of census data starts with the respondents. Please provide the real information, because if the data is wrong, then the resulting policies may also be inaccurate," he said.

To ensure the quality of the data collection results, the government implements a layered supervision system. Data collected by field officers will undergo a verification process starting from supervisors, district coordinators, district/city BPS, provincial BPS, to the national level before becoming part of the official database.

Accurate Data is the Foundation of Policy

Meanwhile, Bakom's Principal Expert, Fithra Faisal Hastiadi, said accurate statistical data was an important foundation for the government in formulating public policies.

Therefore, community participation in the Economic Census is the key to ensuring that various development programs are truly in line with the needs on the ground.

He likened the census to a health examination. A doctor can only provide the right treatment if he gets complete information about the patient's condition. The same principle applies in the preparation of economic policies that require accurate data as a basis for decision-making.

"If we want government policies to be targeted, we must have a strong statistical foundation. The economic census is not for taxes, but to know the actual economic conditions so that the government can provide policies that meet the needs of the community," said Fithra.

According to him, statistical data has become the basis for various government policies, including the preparation of economic stimulus when the business world faces production cost pressures. Therefore, the quality of data collected from the community is very important in determining the accuracy of policies taken by the government.

Fithra hopes that the public will not easily be influenced by misleading information regarding the implementation of the census. He assessed that BPS has had a recognized credibility, both at home and abroad, so that the public does not need to hesitate to participate.

"What the government is doing with BPS is to empower the community. The government wants to make policies based on correct data. Therefore, the public does not need to worry, provide honest data and let BPS maintain its confidentiality," he said.

Through community participation and accurate data, the 2026 Economic Census is expected to become the foundation for the preparation of policies that are increasingly targeted, adaptive, and able to drive inclusive economic growth throughout Indonesia.