Facing Unexpected Enthusiasm, Kenya Bans Worldcoin

The Kenyan government has decided to suspend Worldcoin in the country while waiting to learn more about how the company collects and uses the data from the scanned irises. On Wednesday, Kenya announced the suspension of the cryptocurrency Worldcoin, whose verification system is based on iris recognition, pending the results of investigations into the “security and protection of data” collected by the company.

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Worldcoin Launch Met With Privacy Concerns

Launched in late June in Germany by OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, the Worldcoin system is also under investigation by European regulators, including those from France and Germany. Worldcoin is meant to become a type of digital passport operating through blockchain, allowing users to prove their identity online without sharing personal data. To obtain this digital passport, users must undergo an iris scan using an “orb,” a biometric device designed by Worldcoin.

On Wednesday, the Kenyan Ministry of Interior announced in a statement that they would “immediately suspend the activities of Worldcoin until the relevant public agencies certify the absence of any risk to the public.” This cryptocurrency has gained some success in this East African country, particularly amid sustained inflation.

$50 for an Iris Scan

On Tuesday, in the capital Nairobi, several thousand people queued up at shopping centers and the main conference center to undergo an iris scan and receive the equivalent of 7,000 shillings (45 euros) in virtual currency, as observed by an AFP journalist. Most individuals then immediately sold their “tokens.”

“Concerned about the activities (of Worldcoin) involved in registering citizens through the collection of data on the eye/iris globe,” the government stated that they have launched investigations.

Kenya to Investigate Legality of Project

These investigations aim to “ascertain the authenticity and legality of the activities, the security and protection of the collected data, and how the collectors intend to use the data.”

When contacted by AFP, Worldcoin had not yet responded to this suspension. This cryptocurrency is also under scrutiny by several European regulators and is currently not available in the United States, where authorities are attempting to better regulate this sector.

Worldcoin Deployed 1500 “Orbs” Worldwide

Worldcoin spent three years developing its project, and two million people signed up during the testing phase to obtain a digital passport called “World ID.” In April, BuzzFeed reported on the anger of some of these individuals who felt trapped by the company’s promises after agreeing to have their irises scanned. Alex Blania, co-founder of Worldcoin, admitted in an interview with the news site that communication could have been “better in some cases.”

Around 1500 “orbs” will be deployed worldwide to enable millions of other users to register, according to the Worldcoin website. The value of the “token,” initially $1.70, rose to $3.58 before falling back to $2.37, according to the CoinMarketCap website.

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