Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, has confirmed that the Wikimedia Foundation—the non-profit organization behind the online encyclopedia Wikipedia—has reached an agreement with the Indonesian government regarding its registration as a Private Scope Electronic System Provider (PSE).
Minister Meutya stated that the registration process is now officially underway. During a press conference at the Ministry’s headquarters on Tuesday, April 28, she noted that the Wikimedia team has already submitted the necessary documentation to the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi). The Ministry expects the registration to be finalized in the near future.
This regulatory requirement is mandated by Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation Number 5 of 2020. Under this policy, any digital platform that provides services, processes personal data, or is accessible within Indonesia must register with the government. Minister Meutya emphasized that these measures are essential to ensure consumer protection and guarantee that all digital platforms operating in the country comply with Indonesian law.
The Ministry has maintained a constructive dialogue with the Wikimedia Foundation throughout this process. Minister Meutya highlighted that Wikimedia has expressed respect for the government’s efforts to enforce established legal frameworks. She expressed optimism that the remaining steps of the registration process would be completed quickly and accurately.
The government previously lifted the block on Wikimedia Commons on March 26, 2026, and Wikipedia has since returned to normal operations. However, current observations indicate that the Ministry continues to restrict access to the authentication domain, auth.wikimedia.org, pending the full completion of the registration.
This resolution follows a period of significant pressure. On April 15, 2026, the Ministry’s Director General for Digital Space Oversight, Alexander Sabar, issued a final ultimatum, threatening a full block of the Wikimedia ecosystem—including Wikipedia Indonesia and Wikimedia Commons—if the organization failed to register within seven working days. This ultimatum followed a series of grace periods granted to Wikimedia since November 2025.
The Ministry’s timeline for the compliance evaluation is as follows:
- November 14, 2025: The Ministry issues initial notification regarding PSE registration obligations.
- November 21, 2025: Wikimedia requests an extension; the Ministry grants the request.
- December 1, 2025: Wikimedia requests a second extension; the Ministry grants the request.
- January 6, 2026: Wikimedia requests a final extension, with a deadline of January 20, 2026.
- January 28, 2026: After the deadline passes without compliance, the Ministry issues a formal notice of intent to block.
- February 25, 2026: Following a lack of response, the Ministry implements a partial block on auth.wikimedia.org.
- April 7, 2026: The Ministry invites Wikimedia to a formal discussion regarding registration.
- April 9, 2026: Wikimedia reports that it has no official representation in Indonesia.
- April 13, 2026: Registration remains outstanding.
- April 15, 2026: The Ministry issues a final seven-day grace period, warning of a total blockage for non-compliance.
Summary
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, has confirmed that the Wikimedia Foundation has initiated the registration process as a Private Scope Electronic System Provider (PSE) in Indonesia. The foundation has submitted the required documentation to the Ministry, fulfilling regulatory requirements mandated by Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation Number 5 of 2020. This registration ensures that digital platforms operating within the country comply with local laws and consumer protection standards.
This progress follows a period of regulatory pressure, which included an ultimatum regarding a potential full block of the Wikimedia ecosystem. While Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia have returned to normal operations, the Ministry continues to restrict the authentication domain, auth.wikimedia.org, until the registration process is finalized. The government remains optimistic that the remaining steps will be completed quickly, marking a resolution to the ongoing compliance discussions.
