Jakarta – May 6, 2025 — Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has officially suspended the operations of Worldcoin and its identity verification service, WorldID. The decision follows rising concerns over the project’s regulatory compliance and public backlash regarding its use of biometric data.
Authorities discovered that Worldcoin had been operating in Indonesia under a third-party company’s license without undergoing proper registration. This violation prompted Komdigi to take immediate action to prevent further breaches of national digital privacy laws.
Biometric Data Collection Raises Privacy Alarms
Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has drawn global scrutiny for its controversial use of iris scanning to verify digital identity. In exchange for biometric data, users receive cryptocurrency tokens—a practice that has sparked debate over data ethics and personal privacy.
Komdigi emphasized that any collection of sensitive biometric data, such as iris scans, must comply with Indonesia’s strict digital data protection framework. The Ministry warned that failure to adhere to local regulations could result in legal consequences.
Part of a Growing Global Crackdown on Worldcoin
With this move, Indonesia joins other countries—including Kenya, Germany, and France—that have taken regulatory action against the Worldcoin project. Globally, the initiative has come under fire for allegedly bypassing local laws while gathering biometric information from users in exchange for cryptocurrency.
Experts have voiced concerns that these practices could exploit vulnerable populations and undermine national data sovereignty.
Possible Investigations Ahead
Komdigi has not ruled out the possibility of launching a full investigation into Worldcoin’s activities in the country. A formal review is underway to assess whether the company’s data collection methods violated additional privacy or consumer protection laws.
Officials say the suspension will remain in effect until Worldcoin can prove full compliance with Indonesia’s licensing and data protection standards.
