Bringing your Mobile Phone to Indonesia and using local SIMcard

[pantaiema]

BTW, all this shows very well how risky it currently is to buy a secondhand phone in Indonesia. If you look on Tokopedia, Shopee, etc. you see a lot of phones for sale, many are semi new and obviously imported. (The model number in the iPhone settings for instance, shows for which market it was produced, ZA means Singapore, ZP stands for Hong Kong. So always check that.)

That’s obviously also a major reason they give you only one month of warranty and don‘t be surprised it will stop working shortly after that. They can ’fix’ it but it takes a long time and often addition funding.

I personally prefer to pay around Rp1m rather than submitting the copy of my ID, having my personal data to be recorded in Indonesia. Keep in mind they could keep your data as long as they want to without restriction, share or might even sell your data to the third parties.

What about just buy a new cheap Chinese phone preferably with two simcard slots ? There are a lot of them around IDR1m a few are even less than that.

https://www.tokopedia.com/find/hp-murah

As I understand there is no cost for receiving a foreign sms; so you will just use the phone for local calling, order Taxi, Grab, Gojek. For Mobile internet, WA you just tether them.

Apart from spending unnecessary 1m rupiahs, what are the other drawbacks of buying a new cheap Chinese phone ? Is there any better alternative than this if your intention is to avoid having your personal data to be recorded and kept?

 

[R Cameron]

The government has a website you can check if the IMEI is registered: https://imei.kemenperin.go.id/

And yet my phone which is was brought into Indonesia before the new law shows as "tidak terdaftar" despite working well. Phones that were purchased in Indonesia or registered since the new law would maybe show accurately, can anyone confirm?

 

[R Cameron]

Apart from spending unnecessary 1m rupiahs, what are the other drawbacks of buying a new cheap Chinese phone ? Is there any better alternative than this if your intention is to avoid having your personal data to be recorded and kept?

If you are concerned about privacy, security, and your personal data, then purchasing a no-name Chinese phone may be counterproductive.

 

[ChrisTex]

Apart from spending unnecessary 1m rupiahs, what are the other drawbacks of buying a new cheap Chinese phone ? Is there any better alternative than this if your intention is to avoid having your personal data to be recorded and kept?

Your personal information and data is still being collected, while you think nothing is wrong.

 

[pantaiema]

Your personal information and data is still being collected, while you think nothing is wrong.

True, but it is an entirely different matter if it is just a general information like phone number, calling Grab, Gojek, google map with the confidential information like your Passport ID page, your DOB, your health-records, your other home address in other countries to the third parties, especially if it could still be easily avoided.
Keep in mind Custom is different with immigration. I personally will only share my personal information on the basis of "need to know". If only one person / department have your confidential information, it is different with many people/department have your confidential information.
Let alone if that information could be stored indefinitely for no good reason by the party who do not have a good track record of protecting personal information like this

Over 230K Indonesian COVID-19 Patients’ Records Exposed on Darknet

Security researchers from threat intelligence firm Cyble discovered more than 230,000 Indonesian COVID-19 patients’ personal records on the dark web

cisomag.com

Rising Cases of Data Breaches in Indonesia: a Sign to Urgently Enact the Data Protection Bill? | Indonesia Investments

Breaches of personal data are unfortunately common news in Indonesia as it occurs on a widespread and frequent basis in not only the public sectors, but also in private sectors.

www.indonesia-investments.com

On 17 October 2022, Indonesia enacted a specific law regulating personal data protection, i.e. Law No. 27 of 2022 regarding Personal Data Protection. LEt see how effective they are. But the law is only law what matter is what they do to protect that personal information.

 

[jstar]

If you’re using the Google products you need to sell your soul to that company anyway. And it’s similar for the Apple fanboys. And cheap Chinese phones? Brrr

 

[pantaiema]

If you’re using the Google products you need to sell your soul to that company anyway. And it’s similar for the Apple fanboys. And cheap Chinese phones? Brrr

Unregistered Chinese phone to be used for a few months ??
Many Chinese phones like Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme, ZTE, Vivo are sold in Europe and still comply with EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Otherwise it will not be allowed to be sold in the EU.

 

[jstar]

An article from https://www.tijd.be/politiek-econom...schuwt-voor-chinese-smartphones/10323127.html

The Belgian State Security warns against Chinese smartphones from brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo and OnePlus. The Belgian Minister of Justice states that there is a "deep intermingling" between those Chinese smartphone companies and the government of China.

The Belgian Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne, warns in an answer to questions from an N-VA member of parliament about the new generation of Chinese smartphones, De Tijd writes. A spokesman for State Security tells that medium: "We want to point out the potential espionage threat when using these devices." State security thus warns against these Chinese devices, although the service has not yet established any concrete cases of espionage, De Tijd writes.

State security says, among other things, that Chinese smartphone makers can be legally obliged by the Chinese government to cooperate with intelligence services. China's cybersecurity law may also force companies to give intelligence services unrestricted access to their IT systems, State Security said.

Of course the manufacturers deny

But it gets worse:

According to a researcher, Gabi Cirlig, Xiaomi phones are essentially "a backdoor with phone functionality" — and that backdoor leads directly to secure servers in China through places like Russia and Singapore. Cirlig, a cybersecurity expert, and ex-Xiaomi user discovered that data, personal, mostly secured data, was extracted from his RedMi Note 8 purchased through Alibaba.

When he browsed the web on the device's default Xiaomi browser, it logged all the websites he visited, including search engine queries, both with Google and the privacy-focused DuckDuckGo, and every item viewed in a News Feed feature of the Xiaomi -software. That tracking seemed to happen even when he was using the supposedly private "incognito" mode.

And more:

Exclusive: Warning Over Chinese Mobile Giant Xiaomi Recording Millions Of People’s ‘Private’ Web And Phone Use

Xiaomi is collecting users’ browser habits and phone usage, raising red flags for privacy researchers.

www.forbes.com

 

[ChrisTex]

True, but it is an entirely different matter if it is just a general information like phone number, calling Grab, Gojek, google map with the confidential information like your Passport ID page, your DOB, your health-records, your other home address in other countries to the third parties, especially if it could still be easily avoided.
Keep in mind Custom is different with immigration. I personally will only share my personal information on the basis of "need to know". If only one person / department have your confidential information, it is different with many people/department have your confidential information.
Let alone if that information could be stored indefinitely for no good reason by the party who do not have a good track record of protecting personal information like this

Over 230K Indonesian COVID-19 Patients’ Records Exposed on Darknet

Security researchers from threat intelligence firm Cyble discovered more than 230,000 Indonesian COVID-19 patients’ personal records on the dark web

cisomag.com

Rising Cases of Data Breaches in Indonesia: a Sign to Urgently Enact the Data Protection Bill? | Indonesia Investments

Breaches of personal data are unfortunately common news in Indonesia as it occurs on a widespread and frequent basis in not only the public sectors, but also in private sectors.

www.indonesia-investments.com

On 17 October 2022, Indonesia enacted a specific law regulating personal data protection, i.e. Law No. 27 of 2022 regarding Personal Data Protection. LEt see how effective they are. But the law is only law what matter is what they do to protect that personal information.

*This post contains cookies. Click agree to accept.


No, they will collect that information even if you don't think they do. Unless you only use your phone for calls and sms text messages, your data is being taken.
Oh and guess what app you need on your phone to enter Indonesia that has lots of personal data on it. The previous app before that, the same thing. I know eHAC had a data breach and I want to say PeduliLindungi also did(could be wrong though).


You can deny this all you want and say the EU has a policy/regulation, Indonesia has introduced a bill, etc... all you want. In reality, your data is being taken with or without your permission. Also just because a phone company says they will comply with the regulation, doesn't mean they really are.

 

[snpark]

Just from your phone number I can get your address by calling McDonald's or bluebird

 

[yophi]

If you stay 90 days you can register by provider.. I can help you to register..you just by local sim. Or i help you to register your imei by provider. Pm me..

What on earth does register by provider mean? It has to be registered with bea cukai. You can register on arrival with any of the telcom compnies selling sim cards at the airport. If you don't register when you arrive you have to go to the bea cukai office in Denpasar where you will be taxed on the full price of your phone.

You can try this.. To register by provider https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhoxk6Kwq5RsuCKpTJ2tM4m-i6Uc3wGHm5EResaMzcHhVW8w/viewform

That form official by provider xl. But you also chat admin to confirm your form.

 

[mas_dam]

If you stay 90 days you can register by provider.. I can help you to register..you just by local sim. Or i help you to register your imei by provider. Pm me..

What on earth does register by provider mean? It has to be registered with bea cukai. You can register on arrival with any of the telcom compnies selling sim cards at the airport. If you don't register when you arrive you have to go to the bea cukai office in Denpasar where you will be taxed on the full price of your phone.

It means (s)he knows someone with access to the database and who -with a small contribution- can be convinced to have it altered.

I agree that it is recommended to be generally cautious.
However, in this case it is legit: Indonesian Telecommunication providers are able to activate IMEI for 3 months. And for another 3 months and so forth thereafter.

That said, I would recommend to visit your local GRAPARI or other service provider's point of sale instead of submitting any data online. They will usually help as part of their customer service.
No "contributions" here. First hand experience.

 

[jstar]

There is a difference between ‘technically possible’ and ‘legitimate’. There are people who live here for years on VoA. But the fact it is doable doesn’t mean it is legal or not frowned upon.

 

[mas_dam]

What on earth does register by provider mean? It has to be registered with bea cukai. You can register on arrival with any of the telcom compnies selling sim cards at the airport.

It is legitimate for the first 90 days. The point I am making is that it's indeed telecommunication providers and no customs that can unlock for 90 days. This is not about altering databases or such. Any further new activation thereafter is technically possible.


..."dengan registrasi di gerai telekomunikasi untuk mendapat akses jaringan telekomunikasi selama 90 hari"...

Official Website Direktorat Jenderal Bea dan Cukai

Official Website Direktorat Jendral Bea dan Cukai

www.beacukai.go.id

 

[merahputih]

I'm WNI living abroad. We came for a vacation after our last trip 3,5 years ago. I thought I will be considered as tourist too. I was wrong
The next day after our arrival, my husband may register his IMEI of his phone and modem in Grapari by showing his VOA. I don't have VOA so I should go to Bea Cukai office. The value of my phone is around 250$. Since I didn't declare it directly in CGK, I should pay around 40% tax. I chose to just use wifi. The tax officer suggested that next time I should declare it directly in airport of arrival to get a free-under 500$ value device-QR code.
I hope this is helpful for WNI and WNA traveling together to Indonesia.

 

[TonyVov]

Thanks for the information, the 500$ exemption only is on day of arrival at airport. However as WNI the tax rate should have been lower 30% not 40% if the article previously posted is correct.

How To Register IMEI Phone In Indonesia - Visa Services and Business Consulting in Bali

balibusinessconsulting.com

 

[Samoerai]

500$ exemption only is on day of arrival at airport. However as WNI the tax rate should have been lower 30% not 40%

Only if a WNI has a NPWP ....

 

[merahputih]

Only if a WNI has a NPWP ....

Correct. I don't have NPWP. I probably had one in 2007 arranged by a company I worked for. I think I should make a new one if I re-emigrate.