The latest media report shows that COVID-19 cases in Indonesia are more prevalent than the official figures. The report indicates that 15% of Indonesians had already been infected by coronavirus, much higher than the estimated 0.4% shown in the government’s data. In the pandemic’s early days, Indonesians President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo admitted his administration had decided not to reveal all data to avoid stirring panic. His Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has also acknowledged the mismatch of health data between the central government and local governments. [Our latest study] reveals that the complexities of Indonesia’s COVID-19 data management have contributed to this problem.