- Kenya court orders Worldcoin to delete all biometric data collected from users in the country within seven days.
- Worldcoin is banned from handling any biometric data in Kenya due to violations of privacy protection laws.
- Worldcoin faces global scrutiny as more countries raise concerns about its data collection and user consent practices.
Kenya’s High Court has ordered Worldcoin to delete all biometric data collected from citizens. The decision comes after the court found the data collection process violated Kenya’s privacy laws.
Court Cites Breach of Privacy Laws
A ruling during court proceedings established that the Worldcoin Foundation broke Kenya’s Data Protection Act of 2019 when it operated the Worldcoin initiative. The court discovered that both facial images and iris scans were being gathered without sufficient legal protection. The court ruled that these unlawful actions endangered citizens’ privacy while constituting illegal behavior.
Justice Aburili Roselyne issued three rulings on Monday. Each ruling found the foundation liable for unlawfully processing sensitive personal data. The court ordered the permanent deletion of all biometric data collected in Kenya.
Seven-Day Deadline Imposed
The court has given Worldcoin seven days to delete all facial and eye scan data. Kenya’s Data Protection Commissioner will supervise the deletion process. The court also banned the foundation from collecting, processing, or storing any biometric data in Kenya.
All previous permissions that allowed data collection in the country have been revoked. This includes any approvals issued before investigations into the project began.
Legal Petition Raised Data Concerns
The case was filed by the Katiba Institute and the International Commission of Jurists Kenya. These organizations raised concerns about the safety of the collected data. They questioned how the data was stored and whether users were properly informed.
Worldcoin had used its Orb device and mobile app to collect user data in Kenya. Authorities found that users may not have been fully aware of how their data would be handled. This raised alarms over possible misuse of sensitive information.
Worldcoin Faces Global Regulatory Scrutiny
Kenya was one of Worldcoin’s largest markets before authorities suspended the project in August 2023. By then, hundreds of thousands had signed up. Worldcoin had planned to relaunch in Kenya in June after local police closed an earlier probe.
However, global concerns about Worldcoin’s data practices have grown. Over the weekend, Indonesia suspended the project due to registration issues. Regulators there believe it may have violated local laws.
Other countries, including South Korea, Brazil, and Hong Kong, have also raised alarms. In each case, privacy regulators expressed worry over the project’s handling of personal information.
Despite international setbacks, Worldcoin continues its U.S. rollout. It has launched in six cities, including Los Angeles and Miami. New users there receive WLD tokens for joining.
