The Kenyan High Court has ordered Worldcoin, the controversial cryptocurrency project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, to permanently delete all biometric data collected from Kenyan citizens. The ruling came after the court found that Worldcoin violated Kenya’s Data Protection Act of 2019 by failing to conduct a mandatory Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and by obtaining consent through financial incentives, which the court deemed unlawful.
Worldcoin launched in Kenya in April 2023, offering cryptocurrency tokens worth about $45 in exchange for iris scans using special devices called “Orbs.” These scans created a unique digital identity called “World ID,” intended to verify users as human in an AI-driven world. Over 350,000 Kenyans signed up, making the country the global leader in Worldcoin participation.
However, privacy advocates and regulators raised concerns about the project’s data practices. The Katiba Institute and the International Commission of Jurists Kenya challenged Worldcoin’s operations, arguing that the project compromised citizens’ constitutional right to privacy by collecting sensitive biometric data without proper legal safeguards.
The court agreed, ruling that consent obtained through monetary offers was not freely given and therefore invalid. It ordered Worldcoin to delete all iris and facial data within seven days under the supervision of Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. The court also banned any further biometric data collection without completing a DPIA and securing valid consent.
This decision follows earlier government actions, including a suspension of Worldcoin’s operations in August 2023 and a police raid on the company’s warehouse. The ruling has global implications as several countries, including Spain and Germany, have also scrutinized Worldcoin’s data practices.
“This is a landmark victory for digital rights advocates,” said Joshua Malidzo Nyawa, counsel for the Katiba Institute. The ruling underscores the importance of protecting citizens’ privacy in the face of emerging technologies.
Following the court’s decision, Worldcoin’s token value dropped more than 10 percent, reflecting the impact of the ruling on the project’s future in Kenya.
The case sets a powerful precedent for data protection laws in Africa and worldwide, emphasizing that technological innovation must respect constitutional rights and privacy regulations.
