Thumbs Up! No Need To Show Vaccine Certificate On Social Media, Your Personal Data Can Be Stolen

Sample vaccine certificate card (Photo: Ministry of Health)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate, appealed to the public not to upload COVID-19 vaccination certificates to social media. In particular, the digital certificate on the PeduliLindungi application is due to the presence of a barcode in it.

"I specifically asked not to sell our certificates for the sake of protecting personal data. We use them for what is needed and we can be held accountable for our needs", said Johnny in a press statement, Friday, March 19.

It is known, people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will get a digital certificate through the PeduliLindungi application. The certificate contains personal data, namely full name, date of birth, and national identification number or NIK.

Apart from personal data, the COVID-19 vaccination certificate also has a barcode and QR code. So it is suggested that it should not be distributed carelessly.

Apart from prohibiting uploading, Johnny also asked the public not to personally share the scans of vaccination certificates with others. Even in the environment of the closest relatives.

"I certainly hope that the vaccine certificate which is digitally issued with a barcode is in our own interest and we protect it so that we avoid leaking personal data", said Johnny.

According to him, the COVID-19 vaccination certificate can only be used for special or urgent purposes. For example, for travel purposes or work assignments. "Not circulated on social media", said Johnny.

The former DPR member added that safeguarding personal data needs to be done even though the Personal Data Protection Law has not been passed.

For information, said Jhonny, the Government, and the DPR are discussing the Draft Law on Personal Data Protection to provide strong protection for people's personal data.

"In particular, in this case, we need the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the PDP Law. I believe that Commission I of the DPR RI has the same intention and spirit to complete this legal umbrella for the protection of people's personal data", said the NasDem politician.