The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) in Kenya has urged the public to be extra vigilant when interacting with Worldcoin, a digital identification platform that processes iris data using an orb scanner.
Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, launched on the 24th of July 2023.
The project’s core offering is its World ID, an account that only real humans can get. To get a World ID, a customer signs up to do an in-person iris scan using Worldcoin’s ‘orb’, a silver ball approximately the size of a bowling ball. Once the orb’s iris scan verifies the person is a real human, it creates a World ID.
As at last week Friday, about 2 million people worldwide have had their irises scanned by Tools for Humanity. Worldcoin awards users free tokens called WLD after their eyeballs have been scanned using machines located in specific places across about 35+ cities in 20+ countries across five continents, with Kenya and Uganda, being the only African countries where the Orbs will be available between now and the end of 2023.
Users have the option to transfer these tokens to authorized crypto exchanges, such as Binance, where they can be utilized to purchase different cryptocurrencies. Subsequently, users can cash out their holdings through liquidity agents on those platforms or sell them to other users.
On the same Friday, the ODPC issued a statement acknowledging the launch of Worldcoin in the country. The statement highlighted concerns regarding the processing of sensitive personal data, emphasizing the need for proper safeguards in compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2019.
The statement was issued on the back on hundreds of Kenyans going to at least 13 Quickmart outlets in Nairobi to scan their eyeballs to be able to get the free tokens.
According to the statement, “as the ODPC conducts its assessment of Worldcoin’s practices to ensure compliance with the law, Kenyans are urged to ensure that they receive proper information before disclosing any personal or sensitive data.”
“Individuals are advised to thoroughly inquire about how their data will be used.”
The project has received criticism for exploitative practices in poor countries.
