Indonesia suspends WorldID service over biometric data privacy violations
Indonesia's communications ministry suspended the WorldID biometric verification service operated by Tools for Humanity after finding it violated data protection laws and targeted vulnerable populations unethically. The regulator ordered deletion of all collected iris biometric data and closure of scanning operations.
What happened
Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) suspended the WorldID platform operated by Tools for Humanity and its local partner PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara after determining the service violated personal data protection regulations and electronic system operator obligations.
Komdigi ordered World to delete all biometric iris data collected from Indonesian citizens in Jakarta and Bekasi. The ministry's technical evaluation found violations in data protection provisions and administrative obligations for electronic system operators.
Reported impact
Komdigi determined that World's biometric data collection targeted vulnerable populations including children, teenagers, elderly people, persons with disabilities, people with low literacy, and those in remote areas with limited access to information. The practice was deemed unethical.
World offices in Jakarta and Bekasi were closed and biometric scanning operations were halted as a precautionary measure to protect citizens from iris biometric data collection risks.
Index analysis
Tools for Humanity stated it does not store or sell personal data including iris biometrics, and that user identities are anonymized after verification. The company claimed iris images are encrypted end-to-end, sent to the user's device, and then permanently deleted from Orb devices.
Governance controls
Komdigi determined that Tools for Humanity and its partners must comply with Indonesia's data protection regulations and obligations as electronic system operators, and must demonstrate such compliance before operations can resume.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.