The government has called for vigilance through the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) even as the public engages with the newly launched crypto, Worldcoin.

In a statement, ODPC said it is conducting its assessment of the organisation’s practices to ensure compliance with the law.

“The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner calls for increased vigilance from the public as it continues to engage with WorldCoin, an entity processing activities of iris data through an Orb, to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2019. The ODPC is aware that WorldCoin has now been launched and is processing sensitive personal data in a manner that requires a demonstration of proper safeguards under the Data Protection Act, 2019,” the statement read in part.

“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.”

Commenting on the issue, Data Commissioner Immaculate Kassait urged Kenyans to thoroughly inquire about how their data will be used.
“It is the responsibility of data controllers to ensure that personal data is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Failure to do so not only puts individuals’ privacy at risk but also exposes an organization to legal and reputational consequences,” she remarked.

About Worldcoin

According to information from the founders, the crypto consists of a privacy-preserving digital identity (World ID) and, where laws allow, a digital currency (WLD) received simply for being human.

At the heart of the Worldcoin project is an eye-scanning “orb,” which must be used in-person and gives users a unique digital identity to verify they are a real human and not a bot.

“More than three years ago we founded Worldcoin with the ambition of creating a new identity and financial network owned by everyone; the rollout begins today (July 24, 2023). If successful, we believe Worldcoin could drastically increase economic opportunity, scale a reliable solution for distinguishing humans from AI online while preserving privacy, enable global democratic processes, and eventually show a potential path to AI-funded UBI,” the founders, Alex Blania and Sam Altman, said in a statement.