DPR Calls on Govt to Finalize Personal Data Protection Law

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) called on the government to finalize the personal data protection law. The DPR's deputy chairman of Commission I overseeing intelligence, security, and foreign affairs Hanafi Rais said the finalization of the law is urgent as the government requires mobile phone users to register their SIM cards with ID card and family card numbers.

“The government should have finalized the personal data protection law first to ensure the protection of citizen data,” Hanafi told Tempo on Thursday, November 2, 2017.

The lawmaker with the National Mandate Party said that the government should have referred to the banking industry that applies data protection measures as governed by the law.

Read: Prepaid SIM Card Registration Period Officially Opens Today

According to Hanafi, the regulation on SIM card registration issued by the Communications and Information Ministry is merely certified with ISO 127001 issued by ISO and IEC in October 2005. However, not all cellular service providers are certified with the standard.

He also questioned the Ministry’s certification in applying protection measures for personal data.

However, Hanafi expressed his agreement on the SIM card registration program, as it can prevent crimes.

Earlier, the government announced a policy requiring mobile phone users to register their SIM card starting from October 31, 2017. The requirement is set forth in Communications and Information Minister’s Regulation No. 21/ 2017 on the second amendment to Communications and Information Minister’s Regulation No. 12/2016 on the registration of telecommunication service users.

CAESAR AKBAR