[Update 05/06/25: This article has been updated with commentary from Tools for Humanity in a concluding section.]
The World ID project, developed by Tools for Humanity (TFH), is facing regulatory scrutiny in Indonesia and Kenya, with recent government actions focused on compliance with data protection and operational registration requirements.
Indonesia Suspends World ID Operations
On May 4, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) issued a temporary suspension of World ID operations within the country. The move followed public concerns about the project’s data collection practices and led to an official review of its legal standing under local digital services regulations.
According to Komdigi, PT Terang Bulan Abadi, the Indonesian entity operating World ID services, had not registered as an Electronic System Operator (PSE) and lacked the required Electronic System Organizer Registration Certificate (TDPSE). Officials also stated that the services were operating under the registration of a separate legal entity, PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, which was deemed a violation of Indonesian regulatory procedures.
Komdigi’s Director General of Digital Space Supervision, Alexander Sabar, described the suspension as a precautionary step to ensure public protection and regulatory compliance.
Kenyan Court Rules Against Biometric Data Collection
In Kenya, the High Court issued a ruling today declaring that TFH’s collection of biometric data from Kenyan citizens was inconsistent with constitutional and legal requirements. The court found that the organization had not conducted a mandatory Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and was not registered as a data processor under the Data Protection Act of 2019.
The decision follows the earlier suspension of Worldcoin registrations in Kenya amid growing public interest in the project. In the judgment, the court ordered TFH to delete biometric data previously collected from Kenyan citizens within seven days, under the oversight of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC). The ruling also prohibits the company from resuming data processing activities without fulfilling regulatory obligations, including conducting a DPIA and obtaining valid user consent.
The ODPC had earlier raised concerns that the project’s data processing practices—particularly those involving sensitive biometric information—did not meet established standards for transparency and risk mitigation.
Broader Implications for Global Digital ID Initiatives
These regulatory developments come as TFH continues to scale its World ID project globally. While the company recently reported reaching 10 million users, these cases highlight the challenges digital identity initiatives face when navigating diverse legal frameworks and data protection regimes.
TFH describes World ID as a system that enables individuals to verify their personhood in a privacy-preserving manner. The project has been designed to give users access to certain digital services—including participation in decentralized applications—and may, where legally permitted, allow verified users to access cryptocurrency through a linked wallet system.
As regulatory expectations evolve, TFH will likely face ongoing pressure to ensure local compliance, build trust with regulators, and adapt its deployment strategies to align with data protection standards in different jurisdictions.
Tools for Humanity’s Response
Responding to the development in Indonesia, Tools for Humanity issued a statement indicating that it is looking for a constructive resolution with regulatory authorities.
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.
We look forward to continuing the constructive and supportive conversations we’ve had over the past year with the government ministries concerned. If there are any shortcomings or misunderstandings with our permits we will certainly address them.
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.
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.
What we do is to use technology to verify individual uniqueness in the AI era where misinformation and disinformation, including identity theft and deep fakes, is rife. We do this without retaining any personal information of individuals and instead put that information exclusively in the hands of the people who should own and control the data – you, the user. This information is not available to World nor its contributors such as Tools for Humanity.
Sources: The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Globe, Capital News, Citizen Digital
–
May 5, 2025 – by Ji-seo Kim
