Kenya has directed Worldcoin to halt the collection of biometric data, citing concerns over privacy and potentially unauthorized data use.
Kenya Halts Sam Altman's Worldcoin Data Collection
Making a dramatic move, Kenya's High Court has ordered a halt on Sam Altman's World's (formerly Worldcoin) biometric data collection. The court demanded that the tech firm conducts a proper Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and refrains from using cryptocurrency as an inducement for user data collection.
This decision comes after the Katiba Institute, a legal advocacy group, raised concerns about the company's data practices. The court found that World was in violation of Kenya's Data Protection Act of 2019, collecting iris and facial scans without mandatory safeguards.
Justice Aburili Roselyne ruled, stating that World and its representatives must erase any illegally obtained data under the supervision of the Data Protection Commissioner within seven days. The order also stressed that consent gained through cryptocurrency incentives is invalid as per the law.
The court's judgement reads,
The legal battle started in August 2023, when the Katiba Institute filed a judicial review. Authorities in Kenya also crackdown on World for operating without a license. Following a police investigation, the company temporarily halted its activities, but the court case continued, leading to the recent decision.
This ruling closely follows similar regulatory action taken by Indonesian officials against World. The authorities criticized the company for breaking electronic system regulations and operating without valid registration.
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Conducting a DPIA for a company like World involves following specific guidelines to ensure compliance with Kenya's Data Protection Act of 2019 and its supporting regulations. Key steps include performing a risk analysis, implementing safeguards, documenting the DPIA process, and regularly reviewing and updating it to ensure ongoing compliance.
By implementing these guidelines, World can ensure they maintain strong privacy protections for their users while complying with the Kenyan data protection regulations.
- The court's decision in Kenya has ordered Worldcoin to delete any biometric data collected without a proper Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) within seven days, citing violation of the Data Protection Act of 2019.
- Kenya's High Court found that Worldcoin was collecting iris and facial scans without necessary safeguards, and the order stressed that consent gained through cryptocurrency incentives is invalid as per the law.
- Worldcoin must erase any illegally obtained data under the supervision of the Data Protection Commissioner, as per the court's judgement, which also stated that they should conduct a DPIA for future data collection in Kenya.
