Sam Altman’s digital identity initiative, World (formerly Worldcoin), has been suspended in Indonesia for alleged regulatory violations.
According to Coin Telegraph, the Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Digital (Komdigi) announced on May 4, 2025, that Electronic System Operator Certificate Registration (TDPSE) for World and its World ID service was suspended over registration protocol breaches and suspicious activity.
The Indonesian ministry claims that a company called PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, that was used by World for providing services in the region, may have engaged in legal misrepresentation, posing potential risks to the regulatory framework and users’ privacy.
It went on to allege that World has significantly violated Indonesia’s digital operations laws by using another company’s registration, as Indonesian law mandates all digital service providers to register with the relevant authorities and secure the necessary certifications to operate within the country.
Speaking on the issue, Alexander Sabar, Komdigi’s Director General for Digital Supervision, clarified that Worldcoin’s service was using the TDPSE registration of PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, which breaches Indonisian legal protocols.
The Indonesian Ministry of Communications plans to summon the two local subsidiaries to address the violations and emphasized that compliance with registration requirements is crucial to maintaining a secure digital ecosystem in Indonesia.
While the move reflects a broader initiative by the Indonesian government to protect users from potential exploitation and ensure that digital services adhere to local laws, the response to Komdigi’s suspension has sparked mixed reactions from the public.
While some in the community have praised the decision, some commenters have argued that the trade-off between providing biometric data and receiving financial support could be seen as a fair exchange, depending on individual circumstances.
However, Germany, Kenya, and Brazil have also expressed concerns about the security of biometric data handled by the platform, while others question the ethical implications of using such data for digital identity verification. Despite these concerns, World has continued to expand its operations, with the platform debuting in the United States in May 2025 across six major cities.
Formerly known as Worldcoin, the platform leverages AI technology to give American residents the ability to verify their identification anonymously while also providing access to WLD tokens in a secure wallet. Users can also navigate a range of mini-apps centred around education, finance, and social connection on the platform.
