"This accusation cannot be underestimated, especially since the PeduliLindungi application is accused of storing the people's data illegally and without permission," he said in a statement issued on Friday.
The accusation is harming Indonesia's reputation on the global stage, especially since the nation is currently committed to breaking the chain of COVID-19 spread, he said.
"To be honest, the PeduliLindungi application does store our data, starting from our name, NIK (citizen identity card number), birth date, email, and our travel history," he remarked.
"Almost every crowded location requires a barcode scan in order to check-in. That data is certainly stored within PeduliLindungi," he said.
Related news: PeduliLindungi app gets offline check-in feature
From the start, the PeduliLindungi application has been designed as a tool to conduct tracing and monitor the spread of COVID-19, he explained.
"With the application, the COVID-19 Task Force can clearly observe close contacts who potentially spread the virus. From this observation, the task force conducts precautionary measures based on the required steps," he said.
Given the context, the government must provide a full explanation and answer each accusation without waiting for the issue to spread even more abroad, he added.
"Indonesia's image as the largest democratic country in Asia must be maintained. We cannot let this human rights violation issue degrade Indonesia's position," Daulay remarked.
Based on reports, the human rights violation accusation initially came from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), he noted.
"While the names of the organizations are not mentioned, the government must have known because these NGOs once wrote a protest letter to the government concerning this matter," he added.
These NGOs must be invited for a discussion on the accusation concerning the application, he opined.
"If the result of the discussion concludes that there is a human rights violation, then the government must immediately conduct evaluation and, if necessary, promptly close the application," he said.
He also deemed that they have not seen the direct benefit of the PeduliLindungi application in stemming the spread of COVID-19.
"The application’s only function is to record citizens' vaccination status, and to record the data of people who contract COVID-19," he informed.
"How the data is utilized to protect citizens, I am not sure. This needs to be explained to the public in a transparent and open manner," he added.
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Translator: Benardy F, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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