DistantNews
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Technology

Indonesia Threatens to Block Wikipedia Over Unregistered Status

From Tempo · (3d ago) Indonesian Critical tone

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has issued a final warning to the Wikimedia Foundation to register as a private Electronic System Provider (PSE) within seven business days.
  • Failure to comply will result in a block of all Wikimedia services, including Wikipedia Indonesia and Wikimedia Commons.
  • Komdigi has granted multiple extensions since November 2025 and states that registration is mandatory and free for all platforms, including non-profits, to ensure legal protection and data security.

The Indonesian government, through its Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), has taken a firm stance regarding the registration of online platforms operating within its borders. The latest ultimatum issued to the Wikimedia Foundation, demanding compliance with the Electronic System Provider (PSE) registration requirements within a strict seven-day timeframe, underscores Indonesia's commitment to regulating its digital space. This move, while potentially disruptive to users, is framed by the government as a necessary step to ensure legal compliance, protect user data, and maintain order in the digital realm.

Komdigi's Director General of Digital Space Supervision, Alexander Sabar, has emphasized that this is not an arbitrary decision. The ministry has previously granted extensions to Wikimedia's request, demonstrating a willingness to accommodate. However, the repeated delays and Wikimedia's claim of lacking a representative in Indonesia have apparently exhausted the government's patience. The potential blocking of Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, services widely used by Indonesians for information and knowledge, highlights the significant impact of such regulatory actions.

If there is still no compliance with Indonesian law, then we will take firm action such as blocking.

— Alex Sabar, Director General of Digital Space SupervisionStating the government's intention to block Wikimedia services if registration is not completed.

From Indonesia's perspective, as reported by Tempo, this situation reflects a broader effort to assert national sovereignty in the digital age. The PSE regulation, mandated by Minister of Communication and Information Regulation No. 5 of 2020, applies universally to all electronic system providers, regardless of their for-profit or non-profit status. The government argues that this registration process, which is free of charge, is crucial for ensuring that platforms operating in Indonesia are legally accountable and that user data is protected. This stance positions Indonesia as a nation actively seeking to govern the digital landscape within its jurisdiction, ensuring that global platforms adhere to local laws and regulations for the benefit and security of its citizens.

This is done to protect the public and the platform itself, in this case Wikimedia, to be legally protected.

— Alex Sabar, Director General of Digital Space SupervisionExplaining the purpose of PSE registration, emphasizing protection for both users and platforms.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog