The Worldcoin project should cease activities in Kenya, according to a parliamentary committee in the Kenyan government entrusted with looking into it. In spite of a previous injunction to stop the practice granted in May, Worldcoin continued to gather personal information from Kenyan citizens, according to the committee’s findings, which was made public on September 30. The committee advised Kenyan authorities to take action against the scheme since this ongoing data collecting presented serious privacy issues.
The report highlighted that Worldcoin’s registration of Kenyan citizens via its online app was ongoing, even in defiance of a court order and other administrative directives to cease such activities. The project’s actions may have also included collecting data from minors. Consequently, the committee suggested that the government “disable the virtual platforms” of Worldcoin and investigate the project’s companies for potential criminal charges.
The primary concern expressed in the report was the violation of Kenyan citizens’ privacy rights. However, it was challenging to ascertain the exact number of ‘orbs’ in the country, which are the devices used by the Worldcoin project to capture iris scans for identity verification.
In addition to recommending action against Worldcoin, the committee proposed that the Kenyan government consider implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets and virtual asset service providers within the country. This framework would aim to address issues related to cybercrimes and tax reporting requirements. Lawmakers emphasized their concerns about the unregulated adoption of cryptocurrencies, which they viewed as a potential threat to the state’s sovereignty.
Worldcoin, launched with the goal of distinguishing genuine individuals from automated bots online through retinal scans for identity verification, attracted millions of sign-ups by July. However, its operations have faced scrutiny from regulators worldwide, who allege that it is evading data protection and user privacy regulations and guidelines.
Several countries, including Germany, Argentina, France, and the United Kingdom, have raised concerns about Worldcoin or initiated investigations into its activities. Despite these challenges, Worldcoin continues to operate, and its actions have ignited a global debate about data privacy and the future of artificial intelligence.
Nosisnews reached out to Worldcoin for comment but did not receive a response as of the time of publication.
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