Key Takeaways
- Worldcoin’s World ID operations have been suspended in several countries, including Kenya, Spain, and Hong Kong.
- World ID Orbs are being launched in U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, Austin, and San Francisco.
- The Worldcoin (WLD) token is trading down over 80% after falling from $5 to under $1 in the past year.
Sam Altman’s Worldcoin (WLD) project has hit yet another wall as Indonesia’s data watchdogs allege regulatory violations.
It’s one of several countries that have put World ID’s iris scanning activities on hold. Though this hasn’t deterred the firm from rolling the tech out into six major U.S. cities.
Worldcoin Indonesia
Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) has frozen Worldcoin (WLD) and the firm’s World ID face-scanning operations in the nation following public reports of “suspicious activity.”
This also includes alleging violations of electronic system regulations.
In a statement shared with CCN, Tools For Humanity (TFH) said World has voluntarily paused its proof of human verification services in Indonesia and is “seeking clarification on the terms of the relevant licenses and permits.”
Per the May 4, 2025, statement from Komdigi, the firm that is Worldcoin’s Indonesian arm, PT. Terang Bulan Abadi, was not registered as an Electronic System Operator (PSE). Furthermore, it lacked the certification to conduct legal business.
Additionally, it was found that Worldcoin’s services held a registration certificate with another firm, PT. Sandina Abadi Nusantara. Representatives of both firms will now be summoned to address these allegations.
Director General of Digital Space Oversight, Alexander Sabar, explained that these elements amount to a “serious violation” of domestic laws.
Sabar urges people to “take care” and “remain vigilant against unauthorized digital services” and asks them not to shy away from reporting such violations.
No Face, No Place
In the U.S., Worldcoin’s operations have expanded considerably, and its biometric iris scanning Orb technology is being rolled out to six major U.S. cities.
Tools for Humanity told CCN:
“New technologies are often met with skepticism and anxiety before they are adopted by mainstream society and regulatory stakeholders. The mobile phone, the automobile and the computer had hostile receptions when they were first introduced but with time they proved to be beneficial for society.”
But, Worldcoin’s iris-scanning tech has been the point of contention ever since it rolled out the spherical identity-capturing hardware and began offering WLD tokens as payment for a scan.
“This is why World has been very careful in introducing TFH to Indonesia, engaging in deep and lengthy discussions with the government, making sure that we complied with all existing regulations and even informing the public through press conferences, public events and educational campaigns, before we launched our service,” TFH added.
It first met opposition in Kenya back in 2023 after over 300,000 Kenyans reportedly enrolled in the program. Citing privacy and data protection concerns, Worldcoin’s operations were swiftly suspended.
Spain banned Worldcoin in March 2024 after the nation’s data protection agency cited violations of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. Later that year, authorities ordered the firm to delete all the data it had gathered.
In quick succession, Portugal, Germany, South Korea, Hong Kong, Brazil, and Colombia banned Worldcoin’s biometric data-gathering operations and launched investigations into the firm.
Eddie is a gaming and crypto writer at CCN. Covering the often weird and wonderful world of Web3 with an adoring, but skeptical eye.
Prior to CCN, Eddie has spent the past seven years working his way through the crypto, finance, and technology industry. He began with PR and journalism with Bitcoin PR Buzz and BitcoinNews.com, eventually working his way to become a copywriter with a dozen firms, including the likes of Polkadot before returning to journalism in 2023.
Having studied Radio production and journalism at University in the UK, Eddie spent a few years making podcasts and presenting on a local London radio station as he built up his writing chops.
A lifelong skateboarder, Eddie can often be found at the skatepark or touring the streets looking for something new to try. That, or kicking back playing JRPGs on his original PSP.
