Komdigi Issues Ultimatum to Wikimedia, Wikipedia Editors Face Potential Blockade
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has given an ultimatum to the Wikimedia Foundation to complete the registration process as an Electronic System Operator (PSE). If not, the Wikipedia website faces the threat of being blocked.
The Wikimedia Foundation has been given seven working days to register. Director General of Digital Space Supervision Alexander Sabar assured that the ministry would not hesitate to impose sanctions, as the given deadline is already sufficiently long.
Previously, Komdigi had notified Wikimedia to register since 14 November 2025. However, it then requested an extension, and to this day, the registration obligation has not been fulfilled.
“In the latest extension period, namely seven days, the Wikimedia Foundation is expected to immediately complete the PSE registration process in accordance with applicable regulations. If there is still no compliance with Indonesian law, we will take firm action in the form of blocking,” emphasised Alex, quoted in its official statement on Friday (17/4/2026).
The blocking will be applied to Wikimedia services. Not only Wikipedia, the impact of this policy will also apply to Wikimedia Commons.
Platforms operating in Indonesia are required to register as PSE. The related regulation is contained in Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation No. 5 of 2020 on Private Scope Electronic System Operators, including sanctions for non-compliant parties ranging from written warnings to service blocking.
PSE registration is carried out free of charge and is applied equally. This includes platforms that are for-profit or non-profit.
“This is done to protect the public, as well as to protect the platform itself, in this case Wikimedia, so that it is legally protected,” he explained.
The following is the timeline of PSE compliance evaluation for the Wikimedia Foundation from Komdigi:
14 November 2025: Komdigi sends initial notification regarding the private scope PSE registration obligation
21 November 2025: Wikimedia requests an extension, Komdigi fulfils the request
1 December 2025: Wikimedia requests another extension, Komdigi fulfils the request
6 January 2026: Wikimedia requests another extension, with the final deadline on 20 January 2026
28 January 2026: Wikimedia violates the final deadline, Komdigi sends a notification letter on the plan to block
28 January 2026 - 25 February 2026: During this period, the Wikimedia Foundation again provides no response to the blocking plan
25 February 2026: Limited blocking on the auth.wikimedia.org link
7 April 2026: Komdigi invites Wikimedia for a meeting to discuss PSE registration
9 April 2026: Wikimedia states it has no representative in Indonesia
13 April 2026: Wikimedia still has not registered as a private scope PSE
15 April 2026: Komdigi gives the final extension, namely seven days; if not registered, it will be blocked