In a significant ruling, Lady Justice Aburili Roselyne of Kenya’s High Court has ordered Worldcoin to delete the biometric data of local users.
The court’s ruling came after Worldcoin, a recently launched crypto project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, drew scrutiny for its data collection practices. According to reports, the company had collected biometric data from hundreds of thousands of Kenyans in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens.
A recent tweet by Katiba Institute, a Kenya-based non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that focuses on promoting knowledge and understanding of the country’s constitutional framework and governance, outlined the court’s decision. Katiba Institute collaborated with ICJ Kenya to sue Worldcoin in court.
The high court ruled that Worldcoin’s processing and collection of biometric data, including iris and facial image scans using the Worldcoin app and the Orb, violated the right to privacy.
Kenya vs. Worldcoin
Following the charges laid on Worldcoin, the court issued three directives to the platform. First, the court prohibits Worldcoin Foundation from further collecting, processing, or dealing in biometric data without conducting a proper Data Protection Impact Assessment, in compliance with the Data Protection Act of 2019.
In addition, Worldcoin can no longer collect and process biometric data in Kenya, as the court claimed inadequate assessment and questionable consent methods. Finally, the court has ordered Worldcoin Foundation to permanently delete all biometric data collected in Kenya within seven days under the supervision of the data protection officials.
The recent Kenyan high court ruling on Worldcoin could have implications for other companies collecting biometric data in the country.
Worldcoin Faces Cross-Border Regulatory Hurdles
Worldcoin seems to be facing global regulatory pressure, as a recent report revealed that Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital has suspended the platform’s Electronic System Operator Certificate Registration (TDPSE).
The Indonesian authorities made the move after receiving public reports of suspicious activities and electronic system violations related to Worldcoin and World ID.
Also in September, South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) imposed a fine of 1.1 billion Korean won ($830,000) on Worldcoin Foundation and Tools For Humanity Corporation (TFH) for allegedly violating data protection regulations.
