Australia's wiretapping raised questions as to the government's capacity to secure classified information. Tempo reporters Jobpie Sugiharto and Reza Aditya Ramadhan interviewed the chief of the State Encryption Agency, Maj. Gen. Djoko Setiadi last week on the subject. Excerpts:
The President's discussion with his ministers was tapped by foreign parties. Does this mean the Encryption Agency has failed?
We have provided communications equipment at the palace. We have reminded them: use the equipment we provided to convey important messages so that they won't be tapped. Hopefully, these policymakers are security-minded.
Does your institute have anti-tapping devices?
It's not our job. The task of our institute is to change the content into code so they cannot be read or understood by other parties. The content can be in the form of voice, data or video.
Only at the palace?
In all government institutions. For all important officials, we have also provided communications tools from our institute. We also provide guidelines for their usage.
How are they used?
You just need to push one or two buttons. For normal usage, you can just pick up the telephone. But if you want it sterile, push an extra button. Many find this complicated. If you want security, you have less comfort.
Is that old technology?
That's the newest.
Participants to the cabinet meeting bring their own gadgets. Are they safe?
All gadgets are recording tools for the wiretappers. If they want to be really safe, all participants must be banned from bringing gadgets. They should be kept in a box, far away from the meeting. In fact, government meetings should not be using wireless microphones, they are so susceptible. Wireless are very easy to tap.
Is that procedure followed?
They don't take it seriously and usually ignore the permanent procedures.
Following the recent wiretapping case, what preventive steps are being taken by the Encryption Agency?
The Agency continues to upgrade its capacity. When other agencies are breached, we know we have down our job. There are no special messages from the president.
Do you check electronic equipment made by other countries?
We were once asked to check auxiliary equipment for the Batam Data Center, made in South Korea. Some report it, others don't. I always advise people, if you get equipment from overseas, you must report it to us. Our intention is not to meddle but only to clean the equipment. Otherwise, if there are leaks, don't blame us.
Have the embassies been swept for wires?
The biggest user of Encryption Agency services is the Foreign Ministry. Since 2013, there have always been Agency staffs posted in Indonesian embassies or consulates which are susceptible to tapping. We secure all communications from those representative offices to the head office at home. There are security areas: open, restricted and closed. Before an important meeting, the room must be sterilized of tapping equipment.
Are they checked regularly?
There's an integrated team comprising the Encryption Agency, the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the Foreign Ministry. Their mission is to check embassies in other countries to rid them of wiretaps. Ideally, once a year, the team should come and clean it up.
Which embassies are often tapped?
There are always some that we find by ourselves. Our job is not to find who installed them. When we do find them, we tell the embassies to be careful.
The Australian embassy reportedly has equipment capable of 'sucking' information.
That could be true. All tappings are done through space and satellite. In tapping communications, intelligence bodies cannot be seen. Otherwise it becomes a problem.
Is the Agency's equipment sophisticated?
Break our code if you can. We bought the equipment, but only use the body. We customize the internal parts, because every one of the sellers has its own 'back door'.
Where was the equipment purchased?
Usually from countries in conflict, like Israel and Korea. Countries at war will have very strong systems. But there's also Switzerland and Italy.
We are capable of securing our government's classified contents. There have never been leaks at the Agency. The Agency staff work at the Presidential Work Unit for Monitoring, Control and Development, also at the prosecutor's office. (*)
