On 31 July 2023, Reuters reported that Worldcoin was being probed by German (Bavarian) data regulator due to its large scale processing of sensitive biometric data like iris scans. The regulator was the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection and Supervision. Bavaria is an administrative region of Germany.
The project has already raised eyebrows from regulators in UK, France and was banned from Kenya last week. All of these regulatory actions were based on data security.
The Investigation
Bavarian State Office for Data Protection and Supervision started probing Worldcoin in November 2022 because of its large scale iris scans, a sensitive biometric data. This information was shared by Michael Will, the state president for the agency with Reuters. Bavarian state regulator was the lead agency probing Worldcoin under European Union’s data protection rules because Tools for Humanity, a Worldcoin subsidiary has an office there in Bavaria.
Will also said that:
“These technologies are at first sight neither established nor well analysed for the specific core purpose of the processing in the field of transferring financial information.”
There was a concern whether users gave expressed concerns about their sensitive biometrics or are under any false assumption.
Worldcoin’s Reply
The Cayman Islands-based company replied to an earlier letter by Reuters stating that it complies with the European rules and will continue to co-operate with regulator’s request for information about its privacy and data protection services.
Related: Worldcoin Faces Enquiries in UK Possibly Over Privacy Concerns
