Jakarta. Indonesia's cybersecurity remains a pressing concern that needs addressing. This issue is slated to be discussed in the upcoming presidential candidates' debate on Sunday evening.

Despite achieving a higher ranking in cybersecurity compared to the previous year, securing the fourth position in ASEAN with a score of 63.64 and a global rank of 49 out of 176 countries according to the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI), Indonesia still grapples with alarming data leaks. In a study conducted by SurfShark, the country ranks 13th globally for the highest number of data leaks.

NCSI itself is an index made by the E-Governance Academy Foundation, an NGO based in Estonia. It measures a country’s readiness to protect its cyberspace from aspects such as laws, policies, organizations, capacity, cooperation, education, and awareness.

The government has taken numerous steps to counter cybersecurity challenges, including establishing an emergency response team comprising the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), the Ministry of Communication, the Police, and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) to investigate, coordinate, and enforce laws. Additionally, a bill on personal data security has been passed to ensure the safety of the digital space and protect civilians' rights as owners of personal data.

With the government focusing on the issue, the presidential candidates are also expected to continue their efforts in cybersecurity.

Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan, who teams up with Muhaimin Iskandar, plans to enhance Indonesia's capability and capacity in addressing cybersecurity challenges, categorizing this issue as a form of terrorism or non-traditional security threat.

Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka have publicly said that they aim to improve the connectivity and safety of information and telecommunication security from cyber threats by enhancing the capabilities of cyber agencies.

The last contenders, Ganjar Pranowo and ticket mate Mohammad Mahfud MD, declared their intention to boost cybersecurity capabilities in the era of quantum computing and artificial intelligence. They plan to strengthen BSSN as the primary agency for cybersecurity and establish a military cyber force.

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