Digital Privacy Rights: The Boundary Between Public, Digital Space, and Identity

"No one knows you're a dog on the internet" may be an old saying that used to be true. But now, with the "one single identity" system that the government is starting to implement, we are all being digitally mapped.

One of the latest changes is the issuance of Ministerial Regulation Communication and Digital (Permenkomdigi) Number 7 Year 2026. Through this regulation, an official mobile number is no longer just a means of communication; it is now attached as the official digital identity of every citizen. To prevent this identity from being misused, everyone is also encouraged to have the right to check all numbers registered under their NIK name and request blocking in case of suspected data misuse.

On the other hand, the Human Rights Bill being drafted even proposes the inclusion of the concept of "right to be forgotten". This right would allow a person who has been proven innocent in a court of law to request the removal of their bad digital footprint (e.g. negative framing or news) that has expired. This shows that the state is genuinely trying to protect its people from the permanent psychological impact of a digital world that never forgets. But again, this right does not run automatically, but must go through a court mechanism.