Jakarta. Indonesia needs stronger identity verification and data protection as government services and transactions increasingly move online, experts said Thursday.

CELIOS economist Nailul Huda said reliable data was essential as the government expands digital social protection programs. The Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) said the average accuracy of four major social assistance programs was 41.5% in 2023, below the government’s 57% target.

“Digital systems need data, and that data must be valid,” Nailul said at a discussion hosted by B Universe in Jakarta on Thursday.

He warned that inaccurate or unverified data could result in social assistance being distributed to the wrong recipients. He also called for stronger implementation of Indonesia’s Personal Data Protection Law, including independent oversight and clearer procedures for handling data breaches.

The government is preparing an independent Personal Data Protection Authority. The Communications and Digital Affairs Ministry said in July that the institution was in the final stages of preparation. The Constitutional Court said in May that the absence of such an authority had created a gap in supervision and enforcement.

Information technology expert Yudho Giri Sucahyo said digital services could not rely solely on trust because users and service providers often cannot verify each other in person.

He said digital identity tools, including electronic certificates, could help verify users before granting access or authorization. He also urged people to avoid casually sharing identity documents such as ID cards online.

Consumer advocate Tulus Abadi called for tougher sanctions for digital violations, including fines, license revocation and criminal penalties.

“Consumers need to improve their digital literacy and understand the terms, fees and potential penalties associated with online services,” he said.

The call for stronger safeguards comes amid growing cyber threats. The State Cyber and Cryptography Agency (BSSN) recorded 3.64 billion cyberattack attempts or traffic anomalies in Indonesia from January to July 2025, nearly matching the total recorded over the previous five years.

In November 2023, investigators found evidence of a leak involving 204.8 million voter records held by the General Elections Commission (KPU). In August 2024, the government investigated an alleged leak of 4.7 million civil servant records. A month earlier, a ransomware attack on the National Data Centre disrupted services at dozens of government agencies, including immigration.

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