Komdigi Threatens to Block Wikipedia, Deputy Chair of Commission I: It Will Impact the Public, Be Careful
Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) has cautioned the government to proceed carefully regarding the threat to block Wikipedia, as it has not fulfilled its obligation to register as a Private Electronic System Operator (PSE).
Deputy Chair of Commission I DPR RI, Dave Laksono, stated that policies restricting access to Wikipedia could directly impact the public.
This is because the platform serves as one of the primary sources of open knowledge for the public.
“Wikipedia has become a main reference in education, research, and daily information needs. Reducing access to this service would certainly cause unintended consequences for society,” Dave told Kompas.com on Saturday (18/4/2026).
Nevertheless, Dave emphasised that the registration obligation as a PSE must still be adhered to by all digital platforms, including the Wikimedia Foundation as the operator of Wikipedia.
According to him, such regulations are essential instruments to ensure orderly, accountable governance of the digital space and to protect public interests.
“Therefore, every digital platform, whether local or international, including the Wikimedia Foundation as the operator of Wikipedia, needs to respect and comply with these provisions as a form of respect for Indonesia’s legal sovereignty,” Dave explained.
That said, Commission I DPR RI has asked the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs to prioritise a communicative and persuasive approach in resolving the issue.
“Transparent explanations regarding the purpose of the regulations, accompanied by a willingness to listen to input from relevant parties, will help achieve compliance without creating the impression of restrictions on freedom of expression in the digital space,” Dave concluded.
Previously reported, the Wikimedia Project, including Wikipedia, announced that its services could be blocked in Indonesia within seven working days if it does not register as a Private Electronic System Operator (PSE).
The announcement was made via the official Indonesian Wikipedia account on platform X on Wednesday (15/4/2026).
“The websites of the Wikimedia Project, including Wikipedia, will be blocked by Komdigi within 7 working days if they do not register as a private PSE in Indonesia,” stated the post from Wikimedia.