Indonesia Threatens to Block Wikipedia Over PSE Registration Deadline

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The threat of blocking Wikipedia services in Indonesia looms after the government issued a final deadline for the Wikimedia Foundation to comply with digital platform registration regulations.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) emphasized that the Wikimedia Foundation must register immediately as a private Electronic System Provider (PSE). If they fail to comply within seven working days, access to their services, including Wikipedia Indonesia and Wikimedia Commons, could be blocked.

“Through the Ministry of Communication and Digital, the government reaffirms its commitment to upholding orderly and fair digital space governance for all electronic system providers,” said Director General of Digital Space Supervision, Alexander Sabar, in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, as quoted on the ministry’s official website.

Alexander explained that the government had given Wikimedia sufficient time since November 2025 to complete its administrative obligations. However, as of mid-April 2026, the registration process had not been finalized.

The ministry has now granted a final seven-day extension before taking decisive action. Sanctions are outlined in Minister of Communication and Information Technology Regulation No. 5/2020, which allows the government to issue warnings and terminate service access for noncompliant platforms.

PSE registration is mandatory for all electronic system providers, both local and global, operating in Indonesia. The regulation aims to ensure user data protection and establish orderly digital governance. The ministry stressed that the registration process is free and applies equally to all organizations, including non-profits such as Wikimedia.

The government had previously granted several extensions at Wikimedia’s request and held intensive communication, including a meeting invitation in early April 2026. However, Wikimedia stated that it does not have a representative office in Indonesia, complicating compliance.

As the deadline approaches, Wikipedia’s accessibility in Indonesia will depend on Wikimedia’s actions in the coming days. ***