Worldcoin just hit another wall – and this time, it’s in Indonesia. The controversial crypto identity project co-founded by OpenAI CEO sam altman
If you’ve been following Worldcoin’s rollercoaster ride across global regulators, this latest development might not surprise you but it definitely raises fresh questions. What triggered the move? And what does this mean for Worldcoin’s future, especially as it tries to gain traction in the U.S.?
Let’s break it down.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics announced the move on May 4, citing public complaints and suspicious behavior linked to the platform. Alexander Sabar, director general for digital space supervision, called the freeze a “preventive measure” aimed at protecting citizens from potential harm.
The ministry is now summoning Worldcoin’s local partners – PT Terang Bulan Abadi and PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara – for further questioning.
“The freezing is a preventive measure to prevent potential risk to the public,” said Alexander Sabar, the ministry’s director general for digital space supervision.
The suspension adds Indonesia to a growing list of countries pushing back against Worldcoin’s eyeball-scanning tech. Since its 2023 launch, the project has stirred privacy debates from Kenya to Hong Kong, and more recently in Portugal and Spain, all of which have blocked or suspended its operations over biometric data concerns.
It really does make you think: how safe is this?
Worldcoin’s big pitch? Prove you’re human in an internet full of bots – by scanning your eyeball. The idea sounds straight out of a sci-fi novel, but co-founder Sam Altman sees it as the key to surviving the AI era. Every scan generates a unique “World ID,” letting users tap into the project’s crypto ecosystem.
Worldcoin swears the biometric data is encrypted and fully anonymized but not everyone’s convinced. From Europe to Asia, regulators are raising eyebrows (and legal flags), questioning how much privacy users are really giving up in exchange for a digital identity.
Still, Altman’s not backing down.
Under the Trump administration’s friendlier crypto stance, Worldcoin has finally entered the U.S. market. Altman, now positioning America as World’s main focus, plans to deploy 10,000 orbs nationwide. A new Texas factory is already in the works to support the rollout.
Worldcoin is placing a big bet on a future where proving you’re human is the new login.
But as Indonesia becomes the latest to hit pause, the question now is whether Altman’s vision can balance innovation with privacy. If not, more countries might block it before the future arrives.
Worldcoin uses iris scans to verify human identity and issues a unique “World ID” for access to its crypto ecosystem.
Worldcoin has faced bans or suspensions in Kenya, Spain, Portugal, Hong Kong, and now Indonesia over data privacy concerns.
Critics fear misuse of biometric data despite claims it’s encrypted and anonymized, raising global regulatory red flags.
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