Indonesia suspends OpenAI CEO's Worldcoin over alleged registration violations
By lauraharris // 2025-05-10
Copy
 
  • Indonesia's Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) temporarily halted Worldcoin's operations, citing registration violations and suspicious activity.
  • Local subsidiaries PT Terang Bulan Abadi (operating without proper registration) and PT Sandina Abad Nusantara (accused of misusing another company's identity) face scrutiny.
  • Komdigi emphasized that digital service providers must comply with local laws, calling Worldcoin's actions a "serious violation."
  • Similar suspensions occurred in Brazil (over invalid consent for biometric data) and Germany (GDPR compliance issues), while Kenya banned it in 2023 over privacy risks.
  • Indonesia has not set a timeline for lifting the suspension, pending further findings. Authorities urge public vigilance against unauthorized digital services.
Indonesia has temporarily suspended the digital identity project World Network, formerly known as Worldcoin and co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, after regulators uncovered alleged registration violations. The Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) announced Sunday, May 4, that it had halted the Electronic System Operator Certificate Registration (TDPSE) for World and World ID due to suspicious activity and potential legal breaches. According to Komdigi, it would summon PT Terang Bulan Abadi and PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, the local subsidiaries linked to Worldcoin, to clarify the allegations. Preliminary findings suggest that PT Terang Bulan Abadi was operating without a valid TDPSE. Meanwhile, PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara – the entity Worldcoin used to provide services – was allegedly involved in legal misrepresentation by using a registration of another company. "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. He stressed that all digital service providers in Indonesia must comply with local registration laws, warning that "noncompliance with registration obligations and the use of the identity of another legal entity to carry out digital services is a serious violation." Sabar also clarified that the ministry is committed to strict oversight of Indonesia's digital ecosystem to ensure security and trust. Thus, it urges citizens to report suspicious digital services through official channels to reinforce the need for public vigilance against unauthorized operations and prevent potential risks to the public. Komdigi has not specified how long the suspension will last but stated that further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

Worldcoin faces worldwide regulatory pushback

This is not the first time Worldcoin has faced regulatory pushback. For instance, the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) of Brazil ordered World Network to immediately halt its practice of offering cryptocurrency rewards to Brazilians in exchange for their biometric data on Jan. 24. The ANPD ruled that Tools for Humanity (TFH), the company behind the project, must cease operations in the country by Jan. 25, citing concerns over invalid consent and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. Under Brazilian data protection laws, consent for processing sensitive biometric data must be freely given (without coercion or undue influence), informed and specific (users must fully understand what they're agreeing to) and unambiguous (clear and explicit). The ANPD found that offering financial incentives, such as Worldcoin's WLD tokens, could manipulate consent, particularly for low-income or financially desperate individuals. The agency also raised alarms over the irreversible nature of biometric data collection (once an iris scan is taken, it cannot be undone), the lack of a clear deletion mechanism for users who later withdraw consent and the high risk of misuse, given the sensitive nature of iris data. Germany made a similar move in December 2024 when its data protection authority forced the company to adjust its practices to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union. Critics argued that the project, which claims to create a universal digital identity system that could support Universal Basic Income (UBI) and a new global currency, poses serious privacy risks and could enable mass surveillance. Similarly, Kenya suspended the project over public safety concerns in 2023, citing its iris-scanning technology and data privacy risks. (Related: Kenyan government SUSPENDS rollout of Worldcoin over potential risks to public safety.) Check out Glitch.news for more similar stories. Watch this video about how Worldcoin pushes new digital IDs that will probably be adopted worldwide. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Worldcoin accused of unethical practices shortly after its official launch. OpenAI CEO launches global "Worldcoin" cryptocurrency to facilitate Universal Basic Income (UBI) and globalist authoritarian control. Worldcoin CEO: Global digital currency tied to global digital ID will soon be required 'whether you like it or not.' "Worldcoin" is here: Just get your eyes scanned by "The Orb" and your new "World ID" will be issued to you. New crypto linked to digital ID forces all users to scan their EYEBALLS using iris-scanning technology. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com CoinTelegraph.com 1 CoinTelegraph.com 2 Brighteon.com
Copy