Regulators Investigate Worldcoin Crypto Project for Data Concerns: German, French, and Other Watchdogs Involved

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Regulators from the UK, France, Germany, Kenya and‌ Mexico are currently looking into the projectWorldcoin dipped 40% a ⁢few hours after it was ‍launched last month due ​to its controversial tokenomicsWLD was trading at $2.34 in the early hours of Tuesday

Worldcoin, the iris biometric cryptocurrency project that ‍rewards people with free cryptocurrency⁣ for enrolling in its digital ID by ⁣scanning ⁢their‍ eyes, is now in the crosshairs of regulators from different parts⁣ of the world​ over data ⁤concerns.

Regulators ‍in the U.K., France, Germany, Kenya and ​Mexico are currently looking into the project spearheaded by Sam Altman, a known figure in ​the​ artificial intelligence‍ (AI) industry and ⁣Alex ⁤Blania, a former National Geographic photographer and CEO of the tech company⁤ Odyssey.

Worldcoin, which‌ was officially ⁤launched last month, is an ⁢ambitious project that offers‍ a World ⁢ID,⁢ or a “digital passport,” for a⁤ world in which​ it’s‌ harder to distinguish humans from AI ⁣robots. To get a WLD crypto token, customers have to sign ⁣up for an iris scan, which will be done using an “orb” device.

Worldcoin dipped by 40% a few hours ‍after it was launched ‌on‌ July 24 due to its controversial tokenomics, with many already raising‌ their eyebrows ‍about the project ⁤and the way the⁣ team handles data collected from users.

The Information‌ Commission ‌Office (ICO),⁤ the privacy authority in the U.K., ⁢has started an investigation‍ into ⁣the project following its launch ​in the region ⁣and promised to ⁤conduct further ⁣investigation, Reuters ⁣reported.

The watchdog also underlined the need for any organization to ‍conduct ⁢a Data Protection⁤ Impact ​Assessment before processing⁣ any data that could⁣ pose a risk to the public, particularly in the special biometric data category.

France’s ​privacy‌ watchdog CNIL has also‌ raised‌ concerns about Worldcoin, saying the project’s collection and ⁣storing ⁣of data ​is questionable. The regulator said it is not comfortable with the conditions for ‌handling biometric‌ data.

The⁣ Bavarian State⁤ Office⁣ for Data Protection Supervision in Germany started investigating Worldcoin last November‍ over concerns that the⁢ initiative would use new technology to process⁣ “sensitive data at a very large scale.” Its president, Michael Will, revealed the Bavarian State Office is the chief authority conducting an investigation under the EU data protection rules since Tools for Humanity, the tech company‌ behind ⁤Worldcoin, ⁣has a German subsidy.

“These⁤ technologies are at first sight neither established ‍nor well⁤ analyzed for the specific ​core ⁢purpose of the processing ‌in the field‍ of transferring financial information,” Will said, adding that this could lead to several‌ risks, including whether users have consented to their highly ​sensitive ‌biometric data being processed based on ‍”sufficient and clear” ‌information.

The Office⁤ of‌ the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), Kenya’s ⁤data watchdog, is ‍also looking ‍into Worldcoin. It has‍ asked the public to exercise ‍vigilance while enrolling ‌in the project. The ⁤regulator also raised concerns about the way Worldcoin processes sensitive personal ⁣data, as well as‌ its ‌compliance with the country’s Data ⁣Protection‍ Act of 2019.

“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,” the Kenyan watchdog‍ said. “Individuals​ are advised to thoroughly inquire‍ about how their data will be⁢ used.”

Worldcoin⁤ Dips ⁤40% As Project Faces UK Watchdog ‍Probe And ‍Tokenomics​ Scrutiny From Crypto CommunityRead ⁤more

Worldcoin ⁣Dips 40% As Project Faces UK ‌Watchdog Probe And Tokenomics Scrutiny From Crypto Community

Privacy‌ advocates in Mexico⁣ are sounding the ‍alarm ⁢about Worldcoin ⁣as it could put users⁤ at risk of data breaches ⁤and⁣ abuses⁢ due to ⁢the country’s weak data protection laws.

The​ Worldcoin Foundation said last week that it adheres ‍to the rules of the European⁣ Union and‍ will continue to work with various ​regulatory and governing bodies’ requests for details on its privacy and data protection practices.

“Biometric data never leaves the Orb. Once you’ve‌ signed up, it’s⁣ permanently deleted,” Worldcoin’s ⁣privacy page read. “Your biometric data is first processed ⁢locally on the Orb and ⁤then permanently deleted. The‍ only data that remains is your IrisCode. This IrisCode is a set of numbers generated‌ by the Orb and is not‍ linked⁣ to your wallet‌ or⁣ any of⁢ your personal information. As ‌a result, it really tells us ⁤— and⁣ everyone else — nothing about ‍you.⁢ All it does is stop you from being ​able to sign ⁤up again.”

“Since you‌ are not required to provide personal information like your ‍name, email address, physical‍ address, or phone number, this means that ⁤you ⁢can easily‍ sign up without us ⁢ever knowing‌ anything about you.,” ⁤Worldcoin⁢ said⁤ on the website.

WLD, the native token of the Worldcoin project, ​has slowly climbed back since it plummeted last week but ⁤still has not reclaimed⁢ the $3.00 price level.

As of 3:15 a.m.‌ ET on Tuesday, WLD‍ was trading at⁢ $2.34, with a 24-hour trading ​volume down by 34.42% at $103,298,001 – representing a 3.37% increase in the last 24 hours ⁣and a 14.74% increase​ over the past seven days.

WLD’s total circulating supply stands at 114,925,266, and its value is up by ​4.35% at ​a⁣ market cap of $268,676,290, according to ​data from CoinMarketCap.

2023-08-02 08:48:02
Original from www.ibtimes.com
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