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Worldcoin Ordered to Delete Biometric Data in Kenya Over Privacy Breach

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Monday, 05/05/2025 | 14:44 GMT by
Jared Kirui

  • The court’s decision follows concerns over privacy violations and improper data protection practices during the company’s brief operations in Kenya.
  • According to the ruling, the required Data Protection Impact Assessment was not completed prior to data collection, which is a violation of Kenyan law.

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A Kenyan court has ruled that Worldcoin must erase
biometric data it unlawfully gathered from thousands of citizens, in a major
regulatory pushback against the cryptocurrency-linked identity project, local
media outlet Citizen Digital reported.

The ruling follows mounting concerns over data
protection and privacy violations in the firm’s short-lived but controversial
operations in the country.

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) May 5, 2025

Deletion of Sensitive Biometric Data

The decision targets the company’s use of orbs to scan individuals’ irises in exchange for $50 worth of cryptocurrency. According to regulators, this process happened without valid consent and an
approved Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA), both required by Kenyan law.

The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC)
will reportedly oversee the deletion process. The regulator raised the alarm
over the company’s handling of personal data, warning that continued processing
could lead to unauthorized use, erasure, or modification of Kenyan citizens’
biometric profiles.

Deputy Data Commissioner Oscar Otieno filed an
affidavit in court asserting that Worldcoin’s activities posed a risk to public
safety. After reviewing the company’s methods, he concluded the project was not
safe for Kenyans and lacked proper transparency.

No Processing Without Assessment and Consent

The court ruling also barred Worldcoin from handling
any further data unless it conducts a complete DPIA and secures informed, valid
consent from users. Regulators argued that these were not optional steps but
core requirements under the Data Protection Act.

Although Worldcoin announced its return to Kenya in
2024, this ruling complicates its plans. The crypto project, co-founded by tech
entrepreneur Sam Altman, had aimed to resume enrollment and expand digital
identity tools linked to blockchain -based incentives. Now, it must meet strict legal conditions before
restarting any operations in the country.

CS Kindiki suspends Worldcoin hours after CS Owalo says they have not broken any law pic.twitter.com/pgi3iRdZNa

— Kenyans.co.ke (@Kenyans) August 2, 2023

In 2023, Kenya’s interior and information ministries told the country’s National Assembly that the data controller registration certificate issued to Worldcoin was not a valid license for the project to
operate in the country. Kenyan authorities then started “criminal
investigations” to establish “the authenticity and legality” of Worldcoin’s
operations in the East African country.

Later, ODPC, again, “directed immediate cessation of processing of sensitive personal data,” according to the statement. This
suspension was not lifted, the then-Cabinet Secretary noted.

“The government has commenced investigations to ensure that
Worldcoin complies with the data collection, storage, and sharing principles,” the statement noted. “Immediate
mitigation steps being undertaken are the constitution of a multi-agency team
comprising of security, financial services and data protection agencies [that]
have commenced inquiries and investigations to establish the legality of the
activities of Worldcoin, the safety and the protection of data collected with
the aim to safeguard personal data and mitigate against any adverse practices.”

A Kenyan court has ruled that Worldcoin must erase
biometric data it unlawfully gathered from thousands of citizens, in a major
regulatory pushback against the cryptocurrency-linked identity project, local
media outlet Citizen Digital reported.

The ruling follows mounting concerns over data
protection and privacy violations in the firm’s short-lived but controversial
operations in the country.

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) May 5, 2025

Deletion of Sensitive Biometric Data

The decision targets the company’s use of orbs to scan individuals’ irises in exchange for $50 worth of cryptocurrency. According to regulators, this process happened without valid consent and an
approved Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA), both required by Kenyan law.

The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC)
will reportedly oversee the deletion process. The regulator raised the alarm
over the company’s handling of personal data, warning that continued processing
could lead to unauthorized use, erasure, or modification of Kenyan citizens’
biometric profiles.

Deputy Data Commissioner Oscar Otieno filed an
affidavit in court asserting that Worldcoin’s activities posed a risk to public
safety. After reviewing the company’s methods, he concluded the project was not
safe for Kenyans and lacked proper transparency.

No Processing Without Assessment and Consent

The court ruling also barred Worldcoin from handling
any further data unless it conducts a complete DPIA and secures informed, valid
consent from users. Regulators argued that these were not optional steps but
core requirements under the Data Protection Act.

Although Worldcoin announced its return to Kenya in
2024, this ruling complicates its plans. The crypto project, co-founded by tech
entrepreneur Sam Altman, had aimed to resume enrollment and expand digital
identity tools linked to blockchain -based incentives. Now, it must meet strict legal conditions before
restarting any operations in the country.

CS Kindiki suspends Worldcoin hours after CS Owalo says they have not broken any law pic.twitter.com/pgi3iRdZNa

— Kenyans.co.ke (@Kenyans) August 2, 2023

In 2023, Kenya’s interior and information ministries told the country’s National Assembly that the data controller registration certificate issued to Worldcoin was not a valid license for the project to
operate in the country. Kenyan authorities then started “criminal
investigations” to establish “the authenticity and legality” of Worldcoin’s
operations in the East African country.

Later, ODPC, again, “directed immediate cessation of processing of sensitive personal data,” according to the statement. This
suspension was not lifted, the then-Cabinet Secretary noted.

“The government has commenced investigations to ensure that
Worldcoin complies with the data collection, storage, and sharing principles,” the statement noted. “Immediate
mitigation steps being undertaken are the constitution of a multi-agency team
comprising of security, financial services and data protection agencies [that]
have commenced inquiries and investigations to establish the legality of the
activities of Worldcoin, the safety and the protection of data collected with
the aim to safeguard personal data and mitigate against any adverse practices.”

Jared Kirui

  • 1885 Articles
  • 34 Followers

Jared is an experienced financial journalist passionate about all things forex and CFDs.

  • 1885 Articles
  • 34 Followers

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