Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) plans to summon the developers of Worldcoin and WorldID next week.

This action follows the temporary suspension of the platforms, which collect users’ iris data, for alleged regulatory violations.

The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) plans to summon the developers of Worldcoin and WorldID next week.

This action follows the temporary suspension of the platforms, which collect users’ iris data, for alleged regulatory violations.

Worldcoin operates in Indonesia under PT. Terang Bulan Abadi but is not registered as an Electronic System Operator (PSE).

It also lacks the necessary operational permit, known as TDPSE.

The ministry indicated that the TDPSE was instead issued to PT. Sandina Abadi Nusantara, raising compliance concerns.

🔗 Source: Katadata

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Indonesia’s digital regulations reflect broader global concerns about biometric data

Indonesia’s action against Worldcoin mirrors similar regulatory interventions in multiple countries concerned about iris-scanning technology.

Brazil banned Worldcoin in January 2025 explicitly citing violations of data protection laws and concerns over the collection of sensitive biometric data1.

Spain’s authorities also upheld a temporary ban on the platform, highlighting the cross-jurisdictional pattern of regulatory caution around permanent biometric identifiers2.

This global trend demonstrates how emerging technologies that collect sensitive biometric data are facing increasing scrutiny as regulators weigh innovation against privacy concerns.

The Indonesian case is particularly significant since the country still lacks a comprehensive data protection law, making regulatory actions like this an important precedent for how biometric data will be governed3.

Indonesia’s government appears to be following the precautionary approach seen in other jurisdictions, prioritizing prevention of potential harm over waiting for problems to emerge.

2️⃣ Electronic System Operator registration reflects Indonesia’s maturing digital governance

The suspension of Worldcoin highlights Indonesia’s increasingly sophisticated digital regulatory regime that requires proper registration and accountability.

Indonesia’s 2019 Government Regulation No. 71 established a mandatory registration system for all Electronic System Operators (ESOs), creating a legal framework for digital service accountability4.

The requirement that companies accurately register their corporate entities is part of Indonesia’s broader effort to bring order to its rapidly growing digital economy, which is projected to exceed $130 billion by 20255.

This regulatory approach represents an important shift from the relatively unregulated digital environment described in earlier sources, where Indonesia struggled with issues like misinformation and insufficient digital literacy6.

The use of different corporate entities for registration (PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara) versus actual operations (PT Terang Bulan Abadi) appears to be the specific compliance issue triggering regulatory action7.

This case demonstrates how Indonesia is moving toward stricter enforcement of its digital regulations, bringing its approach more in line with international standards while addressing local market conditions.

3️⃣ Balancing technological innovation with regulatory compliance presents global challenges

Worldcoin’s regulatory challenges illustrate the complex balance between cutting-edge technology and the need to operate within existing regulatory frameworks.

Digital innovators often face a fundamental tension: they develop technologies faster than regulatory frameworks can adapt, creating compliance gray areas that can lead to market access barriers8.

Indonesia’s growing study of international models like the EU’s Digital Services Act suggests a trend toward more comprehensive and structured governance of digital services9.

However, transplanting frameworks directly presents challenges, as Indonesia’s centralized regulatory approach differs fundamentally from the EU’s decentralized oversight model8.

The suspension of Worldcoin demonstrates how even well-funded companies with innovative technologies can face significant market barriers when they fail to fully align with local regulatory requirements7.

This case exemplifies a global pattern where digital innovators must navigate an increasingly complex patchwork of national regulations, each with their own specific compliance requirements and enforcement approaches.

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