Indonesia Faces Hurdles in Biometric SIM Registration Set for 2026

Indonesia is set to introduce mandatory biometric registration for mobile SIM cards, utilizing facial recognition technology, beginning July 1, 2026. This move aims to enhance public trust and combat digital fraud, spam calls, and identity misuse.

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There are at least five main challenges in biometric registration for mobile SIM card users.

However, the policy faces significant hurdles, according to Niken Dwi Wahyu Cahyani, a lecturer in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics at Telkom University. She identified five key challenges: the accuracy of the biometric system, safeguarding personal data, ensuring operators' infrastructure is ready, the integrity of national population and civil registration data, and providing access for vulnerable groups or areas with weak signal connectivity.

One major concern is the potential for "false rejection," where legitimate users are denied registration due to discrepancies with their official data. This could stem from issues with data synchronization, changes in facial appearance, problematic National Identity Numbers (NIK), or verification connection failures. Cahyani stresses the need for clear correction pathways, including operator assistance, ticketing systems for complaints, controlled manual verification, and appeal mechanisms.

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This is a real risk called false rejection, where a legitimate person is rejected by the system.

Technical risks also loom, such as system errors in accepting or rejecting registrations, spoofing attempts, metadata leaks, and potential queues for manual verification or complaint services. Socially, users might mistakenly believe biometric registration makes them immune to fraud, while criminals could simply shift their tactics to other channels.

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Biometric data only secures the registration stage, but does not guarantee that messages, calls, or links received are definitely safe.

To mitigate these risks, Cahyani advises users to conduct biometric registration through official operator channels – outlets, apps, or websites – and to avoid sharing sensitive information like NIK, family cards, ID photos, or OTP codes via unverified links from social media, SMS, or email. She also urges users to periodically check registered SIM numbers and report any unauthorized ones. Crucially, she reminds the public that biometric data secures the registration process but does not guarantee the safety of subsequent messages, calls, or links.

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The biometric registration policy is to strengthen public trust and protect the public from rampant digital fraud, spam calls, phishing, and misuse of mobile numbers with fake identities.