1.2 Million Poor Residents' IDs Stolen in Central Java for SIM Card Registration
Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Approximately 1.2 million poor residents' National Identification Numbers (NIK) in Central Java, Indonesia, were stolen and used for SIM card registration.
- The Central Java Social Affairs Office confirmed the data theft, which is being handled by the Banten Regional Police.
- The stolen NIKs belonged to social assistance recipients and were reportedly used to activate mobile phone numbers.
A significant data breach has affected Central Java, Indonesia, with approximately 1.2 million National Identification Numbers (NIKs) belonging to impoverished residents stolen. These stolen NIKs were subsequently used for the registration of mobile phone SIM cards.
We received information from the Banten Regional Police on February 12, 2026. The Banten Regional Police informed us that data had been stolen.
The Central Java Provincial Social Affairs Office confirmed the incident, stating that the case is under investigation by the Banten Regional Police. Officials received information about the data theft on February 12, 2026, and confirmed that the compromised data reached about 1.2 million.
The number is around 1.2 million data. That's what's been informed.
According to Elliya Ch, Head of the Poverty Handling Division at the Central Java Social Affairs Office, the stolen data specifically belonged to recipients of social assistance. While the exact method of the hacking and data theft remains unclear, it is understood that the NIKs were exploited to activate mobile phone numbers, bypassing the need for legitimate activation by the end-user.
What was taken at the time was data of social assistance recipients. That's the information.
Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.