Indonesia Halts Worldcoin and WorldID Services Over Legal Violations and Security Concerns
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JAKARTA, investortrust.id – Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has suspended the registration of Worldcoin and WorldID, two digital identity services backed by blockchain and biometrics, following public reports of suspicious online activity.
The ministry said the suspension of their Electronic System Provider Registration Certificate is a preventive measure to protect public interest amid concerns about data security and regulatory violations.
Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Oversight at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, said the government will soon summon PT Terang Bulan Abadi, the entity operating the service in Indonesia, for official clarification.
“This step is preventive in nature, taken to minimize potential risks to the public,” Alexander said on Sunday, May 4, 2025.
Unregistered Operator, Misuse of Corporate Identity
Preliminary investigations revealed that PT Terang Bulan Abadi is not officially registered as an Electronic System Provider (ESP) and has no valid operating license. More concerningly, it allegedly used the license of another entity, PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, to operate the Worldcoin services.
“Failure to comply with mandatory registration and using another company’s legal credentials is a serious violation,” Alexander added.
Under Government Regulation No. 71 of 2019 and Ministerial Regulation No. 10 of 2021, all digital service providers in Indonesia must be legally registered and accountable for their operations.
Alexander emphasized the government’s commitment to enforcing digital regulations fairly, urging Indonesians to be vigilant about unauthorized platforms. “We encourage the public to maintain a safe digital environment and report any suspicious digital services through official public complaint channels,” he said.
Alexander, a former senior police officer, has been leading the ministry’s oversight efforts to improve accountability and safety in Indonesia’s expanding digital ecosystem.
Photo: World Economic Forum/Benedikt von Loebell.
Global Project with Local Gaps in Compliance
Worldcoin and WorldID are part of a global initiative launched by Tools for Humanity, a company co-founded by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. The initiative aims to create a universal digital identity system using biometric verification and distribute crypto tokens to users as part of a global economic access model.
Despite its international scope and backing, the service has raised privacy and compliance concerns in multiple jurisdictions, including Indonesia.
Investortrust.id reached out to Worldcoin representatives in Indonesia, but no official response has been provided at the time of publication.
