Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) has temporarily suspends the operation of World App digital platform in Indonesia, including its services Worldcoin and World ID, following growing public concern over privacy and data collection practices.
The suspension came after the app went viral on Indonesian social media for offering payments ranging from Rp300,000 to Rp800,000 (roughly $19 to $51) to individuals willing to have their retina scanned. The offer sparked a surge in visits to World App outlets across the country.
World, operated by U.S.-based tech firm Tools for Humanity (TFH), promotes itself as a platform for building secure digital identity systems. The company was co-founded by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and the figure behind ChatGPT, alongside Alex Blania.
At the heart of World’s technology is the “Orb,” a biometric scanning device equipped with advanced sensors and cameras. It captures high-resolution images of users’ irises, faces, and bodies, and collects biometric indicators such as heart rate and respiration using contactless Doppler radar.
This data is then used to generate a unique code called an “IrisHash,” which TFH claims is stored locally within the device and never shared externally.
TFH argues that the technology is vital in verifying individual identity in the age of artificial intelligence, particularly as misinformation, identity theft, and deepfakes become increasingly widespread.
The company maintains that the data is not stored, that users have full control over their information, and that no external party including TFH or its partners can access it.
Despite those assurances, the company’s compensation-based registration model has drawn criticism and concerns.
Compesation Based Model
Compensation-based registration model isn’t new for World. Worldcoin has offered financial incentives in various countries to encourage participation, including cash in Indonesia and giveaways like AirPods in Sudan.
However, the model has one thing in common, its often targeting economically vulnerable populations.
A 2022 investigative report by MIT Technology Review alleged that Worldcoin’s recruitment tactics in developing nations were manipulative and exploitative. The report suggested that the company was collecting sensitive biometric data from vulnerable populations in exchange for rewards, raising doubts about the transparency and ethics of its operations.
Though TFH insists biometric data is deleted after verification, skepticism among privacy advocates remains high.
Privacy Concerns
Privacy and cybersecurity experts are sounding the alarm over the biometric data collection practices of Worldcoin. Digital transaction management platform TrustCloud warned that compensating individuals for iris scans, as Worldcoin has done in countries like Indonesia, poses serious risks to data security and personal privacy.
In an official statement, TrustCloud emphasized that biometric data such as iris scans are among the most sensitive forms of personal information. Unlike names or addresses, biometric identifiers are unique and unchangeable, making them a prime target for cybercriminals.
If it falls into the wrong hands, it can be exploited to impersonate individuals and carry out a range of criminal activities.
Government Intervention
In response to growing concerns, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) has moved to temporarily suspend the operational licenses of Worldcoin and World ID in the country. The decision was made official on Sunday, May 4, 2025.
“This suspension is a preventive measure to mitigate potential risks to the public,” said Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Oversight at Komdigi, in a statement published on the ministry’s official website.
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The move follows reports of suspicious activity related to Worldcoin’s operations in Indonesia, which are managed by U.S.-based Tools for Humanity.
According to Komdigi, the local operator PT Terang Bulan Abadi is not registered as an official Electronic System Provider (PSE) in the country. Furthermore, Worldcoin was reportedly operating under a license issued to a different company, PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, which is not affiliated with the project.
Meanwhile Concerns over the ethics and legality of the project are not confined to Indonesia. Worldcoin has faced legal scrutiny and regulatory pushback in countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Brazil, and Singapore.
The ministry’s decision to suspends World App in Indonesia, underscores rising international scrutiny over its registration methods and the broader implications of biometric data collection in an increasingly AI-driven world.
(Raidi/Agung)
