The Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Digital (Komdigi) has temporarily suspended the Electronic System Operator Registration Certificate (TDPSE) for Worldcoin and WorldID services.

The ministry plans to summon PT Terang Bulan Abadi and PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara to address alleged violations of electronic system regulations.

Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Oversight, stated that the suspension follows reports of suspicious activities related to these services.

Initial investigations revealed that PT Terang Bulan Abadi has not registered as an Electronic System Operator (PSE) and does not have the required TDPSE.

Furthermore, Worldcoin’s services were operating under a TDPSE registered to PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, a different legal entity.

🔗 Source: Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Indonesia’s strengthening digital regulatory enforcement reflects regional trends

The Worldcoin suspension demonstrates Indonesia’s increasingly assertive stance on digital service provider compliance, part of a broader regulatory evolution across Southeast Asia.

Indonesia’s regulatory framework has developed substantially since the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions Law, with subsequent amendments in 2016 granting the government expanded powers to regulate digital spaces1.

This enforcement action aligns with regional patterns where countries like Vietnam and Malaysia are implementing stricter data protection laws, with Indonesia’s Personal Data Protection Law taking effect in October 20242.

The Ministerial Regulation No. 9 of 2017 specifically requires digital content providers to register and partner with local telecommunications companies, with non-compliance leading to progressive sanctions including suspensions3.

Statistics show compliance challenges persist across the region. For example, only about 270 local sites registered under Indonesia’s 2014 regulations, highlighting the gap between regulatory requirements and actual compliance4.

2️⃣ Foreign digital services face complex compliance challenges in Southeast Asia

Worldcoin’s regulatory issues highlight the significant compliance hurdles international digital platforms face when operating across Southeast Asia’s fragmented regulatory landscape.

Foreign digital service providers must navigate varied requirements. In Indonesia specifically, they must register as Electronic System Providers and potentially partner with local entities, adding complexity to market entry3.

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