Kenya Drops Investigation Into Worldcoin, Allowing Resumption of Operations
Worldcoin, the cryptocurrency and digital identity project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has achieved a major victory in Kenya. The East African nation has decided to terminate its investigation into the company, allowing it to resume its activities in the country.
In an official statement dated June 14, 2024, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of the National Police Service announced the closure of the Worldcoin probe. The decision was made after the public prosecution unit agreed with the DCI’s recommendation to end the investigation without any further police involvement.
The DCI stated that it had conducted a thorough and impartial investigation into various allegations regarding Worldcoin’s activities in Kenya between 2022 and 2023, particularly concerning the alleged unlawful collection and transfer of personal sensitive data.
While closing the case, Kenyan authorities advised Worldcoin to ensure proper business registration, licensing, and collaboration with relevant regulatory bodies such as the Data Protection Commission and the Communication Authority of Kenya. The company was also instructed to conduct comprehensive vetting and establish legal contracts with all third-party vendors operating within Kenya.
Thomas Scott, chief legal officer at Worldcoin developer Tools for Humanity, expressed gratitude for the DCI’s fair investigation and the public prosecutor’s determination to bring the matter to a close.
Worldcoin has faced challenges in other countries as well. Since its official launch in July 2023, concerns over privacy and data protection have been raised by global regulators regarding its unique digital ID offering, which involves scanning individuals’ irises and issuing a World ID to prove their humanity online. Shortly after its launch, Kenya banned Worldcoin and suspended all local activities, including biometric identification, due to concerns over data collection practices. In addition to Kenya, several countries, including India, South Korea, Germany, Brazil, Spain, and Hong Kong, have either investigated or banned Worldcoin’s operations due to privacy violations.
Despite these initial challenges, the Worldcoin network has experienced significant growth. As of April 2024, the World App has garnered 10 million registered users, with 2 million daily users and over 5 million monthly active users.