The Kenyan government's parliamentary committee, investigating the Worldcoin project, has recommended that regulators shut down the project's operations in the country.
According to a report released by Kenya's parliament on September 30, Worldcoin allegedly "completely ignored" a cease and desist order issued in May and continued to collect personal data from Kenyan residents, potentially including information about minors. The committee has suggested that Kenyan authorities "ban Worldcoin's virtual platform" and conduct an investigation into the company for potential criminal charges.
Despite various legal orders and administrative directives to halt these activities, the report claims that Kenyan residents are still registering on the Worldcoin online application. A spokesperson for Tools for Humanity, the organization behind Worldcoin, has disputed many of the findings in the parliamentary report. The company states that it intends to continue collaborating with local regulators to address their concerns regarding Worldcoin.
The report raises privacy concerns for Kenyan residents but notes that it would be challenging, if not impossible, to determine the number of "orbs" in the country. These "orbs" are devices used by Worldcoin to allow users to submit iris scans for identity verification. The committee's recommendations include the government's consideration of establishing a comprehensive framework for digital assets and virtual asset service providers in Kenya. It also suggests amending existing regulations to account for cybercrime and tax reporting requirements.
The report highlights concerns about the unregulated use of cryptocurrencies in an attempt to decentralize the global monetary system, citing potential threats to statehood. Worldcoin was initially launched to distinguish between real individuals and bots on the internet by offering retinal scans for authentication. As of July, the project claimed to have millions of registered users. However, it has faced scrutiny from regulators worldwide, who argue that it circumvents data protection and user privacy regulations and guidelines.
Authorities in Germany, Argentina, France, and the UK have either expressed concerns about Worldcoin or initiated investigations into its activities.
