Don't Share Personal Data on Social Media

Jakarta – The Ministry of Communication and Informatics has advised individuals against sharing personal information on social media to mitigate the risk of its misuse.

Nezar Patria, the Deputy Minister of Communication and Informatics, pointed out that while the government has been actively promoting the National Digital Literacy Movement, which includes a focus on digital security, raising public awareness about safeguarding personal data requires collective effort.

"Our understanding of data privacy is of utmost importance. It's not necessary to disclose all personal information, whether on Facebook, Google, or any other platform," he emphasized.

Patria conveyed this message during an event focused on digital literacy for students at the Millennial Islamic Boarding School in Pekalongan District, Central Java, on Saturday (August 26). His comments were shared in a press release received on Sunday.

During the event, he cited instances where people fell victim to human trafficking due to their failure to protect their personal information adequately.

"It all begins with excessive sharing of personal data. Criminals then create profiles and exploit this information. For instance, they identify a person seeking a job and proceed to micro-target such individuals," he explained.

Patria underscored the role of artificial intelligence, which relies on substantial data from diverse sources.

"Artificial intelligence thrives on big data. The data is processed, models are built, and algorithms are designed for decision-making," he elaborated.

In light of this, he urged individuals to remain cautious when interacting with newly-acquainted individuals on digital platforms.

Regarding regulations, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics will maintain oversight over artificial intelligence advancements to develop appropriate rules.

"The ministry is dedicated to monitoring these developments. We aim to create regulations that foster innovation rather than hinder it," he commented.

He also mentioned that although the current Personal Data Protection Law may not explicitly address artificial intelligence developments, relevant regulations like the Presidential Regulation will govern the protection of personal data in the context of artificial intelligence applications.