The High Court of Kenya has ruled that the collection of biometric data from Kenyans by Worldcoin in 2023 was conducted illegally

The High Court of Kenya has ruled that the collection of biometric data from Kenyans by Worldcoin in 2023 was conducted illegally, violating the country’s data protection laws.

The ruling, delivered on August 10, 2023, orders the immediate deletion of all biometric data collected by the crypto-linked identity project.

The decision concludes nearly two years of public controversy, police investigations, and civil litigation surrounding Worldcoin’s iris-scanning operations. It also sets a legal benchmark on how personal data — especially sensitive biometric information — can be collected, stored, and transferred in Kenya.

The court’s judgment comes amid a wave of global activity around Worldcoin.

In the United States, Worldcoin officially launched on May 1, 2025, in six cities including Los Angeles and Miami. The rollout is supported by the Trump administration’s shift toward a pro-crypto regulatory stance, allowing for public registration, token distribution, and World ID onboarding.

However, in Indonesia, authorities have suspended all Worldcoin and World ID-related activities over legal violations. The country’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics cited misuse of outdated registration documents by a local partner and opened investigations into potential data risks and compliance breaches.

These developments highlight the stark contrast in how different countries are approaching the governance of biometric and blockchain-linked identity systems.

The High Court’s judgment raises several critical questions:

* Will Worldcoin appeal the ruling and continue its operations in Kenya?

* How will the government enforce the court order for data deletion and set guidelines on cross-border data transfer?

* Will this ruling trigger broader changes in data protection regulations in Kenya?

This article will be updated if Worldcoin or government agencies respond to the ruling.