The recent decision by the High Court of Kenya requires the Worldcoin company to delete collected biometric data. This ruling has garnered significant attention from legal advocates and human rights defenders.
Court Decision in Kenya
The High Court of Kenya ordered Sam Altman to delete the biometric data collected by the Worldcoin project within one week. This directive was issued by Justice Aburili during an open court session.
Data Privacy Assurance
A counsel for the Kenyan NGO Katiba Institute asserted that the ruling is progressive, revoking the Worldcoin Foundation's intention to accumulate biometric data without adhering to privacy regulations. He further stated that it represents a win for the right to privacy in the country. Privacy is constitutionally guaranteed, and its breach can occur from failing to conduct appropriate data privacy impact assessments.
International Response to Worldcoin Project
The project faces backlash not only in Kenya but also in several other countries due to its iris scanning program. Worldcoin has successfully raised over $1 billion in investments from major players in the market, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and venture capital firms like Andreesen Horowitz and Coinbase.
The Kenyan court's ruling highlights the necessity of protecting personal data and ensuring compliance with privacy norms. It may serve as a precedent for other countries considering similar data collection technologies.
