Indonesian Ministry of Communications restricts Wikimedia login feature due to unregistered foundation status

Jakarta - The Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) has implemented restrictions on the login feature for the subdomain auth.wikimedia.org since 25 February 2026 because the Wikimedia Foundation has failed to meet its obligation to register as a private-scope electronic systems operator (PSE).

The Director-General of Digital Space Surveillance at Kemkomdigi, Alexander Sabar, stated that the restriction does not block Wikimedia’s entire service.

“Access to the main wikimedia.org page and all available information content remains accessible. The restriction applies only to the authentication feature, so users cannot log in or create new accounts,” he said in a ministry statement confirmed in Jakarta on Friday.

Members of the public can still read and access all information available on Wikimedia during the restriction period. However, activities requiring user accounts, such as editing or creating new articles, are temporarily unavailable whilst the restriction is in place.

The regulation requires every electronic systems operator, whether domestic or foreign, whose services are available and/or used within Indonesia’s jurisdiction to register.

According to Alexander, an official notification was delivered to Wikimedia in November 2025, accompanied by two extensions of the deadline until 20 January 2026.

Until the restriction was implemented on 25 February 2026, the Wikimedia Foundation had not fulfilled its registration obligation.

Kemkomdigi will normalise access to the feature after Wikimedia submits a commitment to fulfilling its obligations and completes the registration process in accordance with applicable regulations.

“PSE registration is a governance instrument to ensure legal certainty and accountability of digital service operators functioning in Indonesia,” said Alexander.

Kemkomdigi will continue its professional and proportionate oversight to achieve legal certainty and protect the public in Indonesia’s digital ecosystem.

The Wikimedia Foundation is known as a non-profit community aimed at providing inclusive access to information. Its most famous service is Wikipedia, a multilingual open online encyclopaedia that frequently serves as an information source for seekers worldwide.