Kenya’s Ministry of the Interior has taken a significant step by suspending the operations of Worldcoin, a novel identity crypto protocol co-founded by Sam Altman of OpenAI. This move comes as Kenya’s financial, security, and data protection agencies collectively scrutinize the legitimacy and data protection aspects of the Worldcoin project.
In an official statement posted on the ministry’s Facebook page, Minister Kithure Kindiki expressed the government’s unease regarding the activities of the organization known as ‘WORLD COIN.’ The organization has been actively involved in the registration of citizens by collecting eyeball/iris data. This innovative approach employs iris scans to create a global identification system aimed at verifying an individual’s identity and humanity. The research suggests that such a system could play a pivotal role in a future where artificially intelligent agents are integrated into the economy.
Despite the potential benefits, there has been a notable backlash against the collection of biometric data and the registration procedures, particularly in underdeveloped nations, where concerns of exploitation have emerged. European regulators, including the Bavarian data protection body overseeing Worldcoin, have initiated investigations into the protocol’s operations.
Kenya has taken a more decisive stance, becoming the first nation to suspend Worldcoin’s business operations entirely as regional authorities delve into an in-depth investigation. The suspension order underscores Kenya’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens’ privacy and ensuring that new technologies adhere to rigorous data protection standards.
As part of a recent experiment, individuals who underwent iris scans were rewarded with WLD tokens. CoinMarketCap data reveals a 3.97% increase in the token’s value, reaching $2.40 on cryptocurrency exchanges over the past 24 hours, since August 1.
The suspension of Worldcoin’s operations raises questions about the balance between technological innovation and data protection. Kenya’s decisive action sets a precedent for how governments around the world may approach emerging technologies that involve sensitive personal information. As the investigation unfolds, stakeholders await further developments in this evolving narrative.
