- Indonesia Suspends Worldcoin Operations Over Regulatory Violations and Suspicious Activity.
- Ministry of Communications Freezes Worldcoin’s Registration, Summons Local Partners for Clarification.
The Government of Indonesia has temporarily suspended the operations of Worldcoin, a digital identity project co-founded by OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman. Worldcoin received its suspension approval from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technology on May 4th of 2025. Worldcoin, along with its World ID service, received a suspension of its registration certificates due to observed suspicious activities, which showed breaches of regulatory procedures.
Ministry to Summon PT. Terang Bulan Abadi for Clarification
The ministry declared a freeze affecting the Electronic System Organizer Registration Certificates for both services. In addition, the ministry will summon two local companies, PT. Terang Bulan Abadi and PT. Sandina Abadi Nusantara, to provide clarification on the reported violations. Terang Bulan Abadi to discuss violations discovered by the Ministry. A preventive action has been executed for the purposes of shielding public safety against unknown risks linked with unregulated digital services.
Alexander Sabar, as Director General of Digital Space Supervision, announced that the Ministry of Communication and Information conducted actions based on public reports. The reports received by authorities established that Worldcoin and World ID did not follow national regulations for operations.
Preliminary findings revealed that PT. Terang Bulan Abadi had failed to obtain official status as an Electronic System Organizer. The service delivery for Worldcoin operated through authorization provided by a different company called PT. The activities run by PT. Sandina Abadi Nusantara create substantial problems regarding transparency and accountability.
Mr. Sabar detailed the registration requirements for private digital service providers which stem from Government Regulation Number 71 of 2019 and the Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Information Number 10 of 2021. He emphasized that operating online services with another legal entity’s credentials violates national digital regulations.
The Ministry also reiterated its commitment to protecting the digital ecosystem through fair and firm oversight. The meeting placed emphasis on how active citizen involvement shapes the security of digital space and builds trust within this environment. People across the nation are motivated to file reports about unusual activities that strengthen national digital security programs.
Worldcoin Faces Global Scrutiny as Indonesian Suspension Raises Concerns
Following government intervention, Tools for Humanity made a voluntary decision to halt their operations across Indonesia. The company needs official confirmation regarding the necessary permits and licensing standards of the country. During his interview, Damien Kieran as the Chief Legal and Privacy Officer of Tools for Humanity explained how the project generates unique digital identities for users via iris-scanning technology. The data becomes anonymous right after processing while users have complete control over their personal details stored on their devices, according to him.
The Worldcoin project continues its efforts to engage with Indonesian authorities since October 2024 but has not obtained necessary operational approval. The suspension in Indonesia shares a parallel regulatory scenario with other nations. The Worldcoin company faces restrictions in Brazil regarding biometric data compensation and South Korea banned them by enforcing an eight-hundred-thousand-dollar fine because of data protection rules.
The world’s regulatory authorities show increasing interest in Worldcoin operations which makes the project’s global expansion doubtful. The Indonesian investigation into this project will determine whether the project can continue its expansion into other international countries.
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