Sanctions Remain, Indonesia Blocks World App Over Ongoing Privacy Breaches
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has decided to keep sanctions in place against the World app, developed by U.S.-based Tools for Humanity, following a full investigation into suspected violations of personal data protection laws. The app, which collects biometric iris data for its World ID platform, has come under government scrutiny for failing to comply with national regulations and for posing risks to vulnerable populations.
Director General of Digital Space Oversight Alexander Sabar confirmed the decision on Monday, June 16, 2025. “The suspension stays. This is a preventive measure to protect the public from the risks of iris biometric data collection,” he stated during a press briefing in Jakarta.
The ministry’s technical audit concluded that Tools for Humanity (TFH), alongside its local partner PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, had not brought its documents, systems, and operational mechanisms into full alignment with Indonesia’s Personal Data Protection Law. Additionally, TFH was found to have failed in fulfilling basic administrative obligations as a registered Electronic System Provider (PSE), a status required to legally operate digital platforms in the country.
Beyond the legal and procedural issues, the ministry raised concerns over the ethics of TFH’s data collection practices. Sabar said the agency had received reports of the company targeting vulnerable groups in its biometric data campaign. “These groups include, among others, children and teenagers, the elderly, people with disabilities, individuals with low levels of digital literacy, and those living in remote areas with limited access to information,” he explained.
As part of its enforcement action, the ministry ordered TFH and its local affiliate to completely halt all iris data scanning and processing activities in Indonesia, including any data that has already been hashed. They must also permanently delete all iris codes and any encrypted identifiers sourced from Indonesian citizens and stored on user devices.
Furthermore, the company is required to overhaul its data governance systems, enhance cybersecurity protocols, and revise operating procedures to guarantee that children's data will not be processed in the future. Lastly, compliance with all aspects of Indonesia’s digital regulation will be treated as a strict precondition before TFH can resume its operations in the country.
“We’ve issued comprehensive recommendations to improve TFH’s data governance, security systems, and operational procedures,” said Sabar, a former high-ranking official in the National Narcotics Agency. “No children’s data may be processed if they wish to continue business in Indonesia.”
The future of TFH’s presence in Indonesia now rests on its willingness to commit to regulatory compliance and to demonstrate corporate accountability in how it handles citizens’ personal information. “We are committed to keeping Indonesia’s digital space safe, fair, and accountable through rigorous oversight,” Sabar said.
Executives from Tools for Humanity, including Chief Information Security Officer Adrian Ludwig and Indonesia General Manager Wafa Taftazani, had previously maintained that the World app’s data practices met global privacy standards. However, the Indonesian government remains firm in its decision, citing unresolved legal gaps and ethical risks.