Indonesia suspends World project amid registration concerns

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital (Komdigi) has temporarily suspended the registration certificates of World, the digital identity project led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

The suspension affects the Electronic System Operator Certificate Registration (TDPSE) for World and its World ID service due to alleged suspicious activity and registration violations, Komdigi announced on May 4.

Komdigi plans to summon World’s local subsidiaries, PT Terang Bulan Abadi and PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, for clarification regarding the alleged breaches.

Preliminary investigations indicate that PT Terang Bulan Abadi operated without the required TDPSE, while PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, which provides services for World, is accused of legal misrepresentation.

Under Indonesian law, all digital service providers must register electronically and using another entity’s registration is considered a serious violation.

“Worldcoin services are recorded using TDPSE in the name of another legal entity, namely PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara,” said Alexander Sabar, Komdigi’s director general for digital supervision.

“Noncompliance with registration obligations and the use of the identity of another legal entity to carry out digital services is a serious violation,” he added.

Sabar explained the suspension aims to protect the community from potential risks and emphasised the ministry’s commitment to fair and strict oversight of the digital ecosystem.

“We invite the public to help maintain a safe and trusted digital space for all citizens,” he called for public participation.

Public reaction has been mixed, with some supporting the government’s action and others highlighting potential benefits of World’s technology.

This development follows World’s recent launch in six U.S. cities in May 2025 and ongoing regulatory scrutiny in countries including Germany, Kenya, and Brazil over biometric data security concerns.