As Digital Criticism Intensifies, Government Proposes ID Cards for Social Media Accounts

On Tuesday, 1 September 2026, Head of the Indonesian Government Communications Agency (Bakom RI), Muhammad Qodari, put forward a proposal concerning the requirement to use a National Identity Card (Kartu Tanda Penduduk/KTP) or mobile telephone number as a prerequisite for registering a social media account. The proposal was conveyed by Qodari after attending the Coordination Forum of the Public Relations Coordination Board (Bakohumas) at Graha Marinir Panti Perwira, Central Jakarta, as part of the Government’s efforts to reduce the presence of anonymous accounts, which are considered frequently used to disseminate false news or hoaxes. However, to date, the proposal remains at the proposal stage and has not become an applicable regulation, while its implementation mechanism still requires further consideration, and technical aspects relating to social media platforms fall under the authority of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi).

Background and Urgency: Why Has This Proposal Emerged Now?

The proposal to use official identification in registering social media accounts is driven by the Government’s concerns regarding the misuse of digital spaces, particularly the dissemination of disinformation and various forms of cybercrime. Head of the Government Communications Agency (Bakom), Muhammad Qodari, considers that reducing anonymity could be one of the measures to address these issues:

1. Combating Disinformation, Defamation, and Falsehoods (DFK): Qodari stated that disinformation, defamation, and falsehoods (DFK) constitute a common enemy that must be addressed systematically. According to him, hoax information on social media frequently originates from anonymous accounts, and therefore reducing anonymity is considered capable of helping curb the dissemination of information that is inconsistent with the facts. On that basis, he proposed that every social media account should have an identifiable basis, such as a mobile telephone number or National Identity Card (KTP).

2. Preventing Various Forms of Online Fraud: In addition to the issue of hoaxes, Qodari highlighted the use of social media as a means for various digital fraud schemes. In his statement, he cited investment fraud and romance scams (love scams) as examples of crimes that frequently exploit social media spaces. According to Qodari, making user identities clearer by reducing anonymous accounts is believed to help reduce the opportunities for social media to be misused for fraudulent acts.

3. Alignment with the Mobile Telephone Number Registration System: Qodari also compared the proposal with the mobile telephone number registration system, which already uses user identification. According to him, mobile telephone numbers currently have an identification basis, and the mechanism is, among other things, intended to reduce the potential for fraud. On similar considerations, he proposed that social media accounts should also have a clear identification basis, whether through a mobile telephone number or KTP. Nevertheless, Qodari emphasized that the mechanism for implementing the proposal still needs to be further considered and assessed.

What Is Actually Intended to Be Changed through This Proposal?

The proposal for registering social media accounts using clear identification is intended to reduce anonymity in digital spaces while also curbing the dissemination of hoaxes and various forms of social media misuse. Head of the Government Communications Agency (Bakom), Muhammad Qodari, stated that the proposal requires further discussion, with several key considerations forming the basis of his proposal:

Reduction of Anonymous Accounts and Dissemination of Hoaxes: Qodari considers reducing anonymity to be one way of curbing the dissemination of hoaxes on social media. In his statement after attending the Bakohumas Coordination Forum at Graha Marinir Panti Perwira, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, he stated that many hoaxes originate from anonymous accounts. Accordingly, he proposed that social media accounts should have a clear identification basis, such as a mobile telephone number or National Identity Card (KTP).

Prevention of Fraud through Social Media: In addition to the dissemination of hoaxes, Qodari linked the reduction of anonymity with efforts to curb various forms of fraud that exploit social media. He cited investment fraud and romance scams (love scams) as forms of crime that are currently frequently encountered in digital spaces. According to him, if the accounts being used have clearer identification, anonymity can be reduced, thereby also reducing the potential misuse of social media.

Account Identification through Mobile Telephone Number or KTP: The mechanism proposed by Qodari is to provide an identification basis for every social media account, either through a mobile telephone number or KTP. He compared the proposal with the mobile telephone number registration system, which already uses user identification. According to Qodari, the implementation of identification requirements for mobile telephone numbers was previously also intended to reduce fraud, and therefore a similar approach could be considered for social media account registration.

Implementation Mechanism Remains Open: Although he has conveyed the proposed policy direction, Qodari has not yet determined the form of its implementation mechanism. He stated that the Government still needs to consider and assess the appropriate mechanism so that efforts to reduce anonymous accounts and the dissemination of hoaxes can be carried out comprehensively and systematically. On the same occasion, Qodari also emphasized that the press and social media are allies, whereas disinformation, defamation, and falsehoods (DFK) are matters that must be opposed because they are inconsistent with the facts.

(Source: Statements by Muhammad Qodari as cited by detikNews, Okezone, and Berita Nasional, 1 September 2026)

Legal Framework and Regulatory Issues

The proposal to require the use of a KTP or mobile telephone number when registering social media accounts intersects with constitutional rights, personal data protection, and the Government’s authority to regulate digital platforms.

1. Constitutional Rights and Limits on Restrictions

Security and Protection against Digital Threats: Article 28G paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution guarantees the right to security and protection of oneself. This provision may serve as a basis for arguing in favour of increasing the accountability of social media users in order to reduce the misuse of platforms for hoaxes, fraud, and other forms of digital crime.

Freedom of Expression and Privacy: On the other hand, a mandatory real-identity requirement potentially intersects with Article 28E paragraph (3) and Article 28F of the 1945 Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression as well as the right to communicate and obtain information. In certain circumstances, anonymity may serve as a means of protection for journalists, whistleblowers, activists, and vulnerable groups. Accordingly, any such restriction must take into account Article 28J paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution, which requires that restrictions on rights be established by law and be directed at protecting the rights of others, security, and public order.

2. Electronic Information and Transactions Law and Personal Data Protection

Electronic Information and Transactions Law Framework: The regulation of digital spaces is currently governed, among other instruments, by Law Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to the Electronic Information and Transactions Law. However, the regulation does not expressly require every social media user to use their real identity when creating an account. This issue has also arisen in Case Number 116/PUU-XXIV/2026 before the Constitutional Court, which, among other matters, raises the issue of the need to use readily identifiable identities on social media platforms.

Implications of the Personal Data Protection Law: The use of KTP information in the registration process must also take into account Law Number 27 of 2022 concerning Personal Data Protection. The Population Identification Number (NIK) constitutes personal data that must be protected; accordingly, the processing, storage, and transfer of such data by platforms must have a lawful basis for processing and must apply the principles of security and data minimization. This is increasingly important because some social media platforms operate across national borders.

3. Regulatory Authority and SIM Registration Precedent

Qodari compared the proposal with SIM card registration, which links a telephone number to the identity of its owner. However, the application of an identity requirement to social media has different characteristics because most platforms are global companies. In addition, Bakom is not the technical regulator of digital platforms; regulatory authority over electronic system operators lies with Komdigi. Accordingly, if this proposal is to be implemented, a clear legal basis and technical mechanism would be required, including regulations concerning platform obligations, identity verification, data protection, as well as supervision and sanctions.

Reducing Anonymity without Sacrificing Digital Rights

The proposal to use a KTP or mobile telephone number as a requirement for creating a social media account has an understandable objective, particularly to increase user accountability and curb the dissemination of hoaxes and digital fraud. However, requiring identification from all users cannot be regarded as a standalone solution because such a policy intersects with the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and personal data protection. If implemented, the Government must ensure the existence of a clear legal basis, a proportionate mechanism, and stringent data protection. The issue is not merely how to eliminate anonymity, but how the State can create a safer digital space without turning it into a space of excessive surveillance. Accordingly, a more appropriate approach would be to establish a verification mechanism that allows a user’s identity to be traced where there is a lawful basis, without making such identity freely accessible. Thus, the success of the policy should be measured not by how many anonymous accounts are eliminated, but by its ability to maintain a balance between digital security, user accountability, privacy, and freedom of expression.