eHAC Massive Data Breach Fast-tracks Data Protection Bill Legislation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The alleged massive data breach that leaked 1.3 million Electronic Health Alert Card (eHAC) users data had attracted the attention of House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani. 

She claims such incidents like the one revealed by vpnMentor researchers Noam Rotem and Ran Locar are the reason House legislators are deliberating the personal data protection (PDP) draft law.

“We expect the government’s seriousness for the PDP draft law discussions and swiftly pass it so it can act as protection for public data,” said the House Speaker on September 1. 

While this is going on, she urged the Communication and Informatics Ministry to work together with the Health Ministry and other state institutions to equip the eHAC and PeduliLindungi app with ample protection. 

“Public data management must not be taken lightly. Public data protection must be done optimally to avoid another data leak,” she insisted.

The eHAC is one of the government’s attempts to track people’s mobility on public transportation, specifically air travel which houses a plethora of the user’s personal data such as photos, ID card numbers, passport, Covid-19 test results, addresses, up to the user’s profession. 

The Health Ministry claims this app is no longer in use as public health documents of air transportation passengers are already integrated in the Covid-19 tracker app PeduliLindungi. 

Read: eHAC Data Breach Exposes Users Personal Information

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH I FAJAR PEBRIANTO