Kenya's High Court Orders Sam Altman's Worldcoin to Halt Biometric Data Collection

The Kenyan High Court has ordered Sam Altman's global cryptocurrency, World (formerly Worldcoin), to halt the processing, collection, and handling

The Kenyan High Court has ordered Sam Altman’s global cryptocurrency, World (formerly Worldcoin), to halt the processing, collection, and handling of biometric data until a Data Protection Impact Assessment is performed.

May 5 ruling

According to a May 5 ruling, which was shared by the Katiba Institute, an advocacy group, the court granted an application for judicial review by the Institute, leading to the order for World to permanently delete any biometric data collected in Kenya without proper assessments within seven days.

The ruling, issued by Lady Justice Aburili Roselyne, also prohibits World from offering cryptocurrency to users in return for their biometric data and suggests that its actions may have breached Section 31 of the Data Protection Act.

The Katiba Institute, which has been a vocal critic of Worldcoin’s activities in Kenya, announced the ruling in an X post.

"The Katiba Institute is pleased to announce that Lady Justice Aburili Roselyne has allowed our Judicial Review Application. We challenged the collection, processing, and transfer of iris and facial images (biometric data)using the World Coin App and the Orb. The ruling is a victory for privacy rights in Kenya," the Institute stated.

Earlier this year, the Institute filed an application for Judicial Review, taking legal action against the Worldcoin Foundation over the collection, processing, and transfer of biometric data, including iris and facial images, through the Worldcoin App and Orb. The Institute argued that these actions violated the Data Protection Act and the right to privacy guaranteed by the Constitution of Kenya.

The ruling comes as several nations have taken an interest in Altman’s crypto project.

Indonesia halts Worldcoin

In August, Indonesian regulators halted the operations of Sam Altman’s global cryptocurrency, Worldcoin, over concerns regarding biometric data collection and a lack of necessary registration.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, the platform’s activities in Indonesia have been suspended due to a potential violation of local regulations.

The action follows reports of suspicious activity surrounding the project, leading to an investigation by the Director General of Digital Space Supervision, Alexander Sabar.

"This freezing is a preventive measure to prevent potential risks to the community. We will also summon PT. Terang Bulan Abadi for official clarification in the near future," Sabar said.

The official statement explained that the startup's subsidiary in the country, PT Terang Bulan Abadi, failed to register as an Electronic System Organizer (PSE) and lacked the Electronic System Organizer Registration Certificate (TDPSE), which is mandatory under Article 9 of the Minister of Communication and Information Regulation No. 10 of 2021 concerning Private Electronic System Providers.

"Worldcoin services are recorded using TDPSE in the name of another legal entity, namely PT. Sandina Abadi Nusantara," Sabar added.

Under Indonesia’s Government Regulation No. 71 of 2019 on the Implementation of Electronic Systems and Transactions, and the Minister of Communication and Information’s Regulation No. 10 of 2021 on Private Electronic System Providers, all digital service providers are required to register legally and ensure accountability for their public-facing operations.