Kenya has officially dropped its investigation into Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency and digital identity project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, potentially allowing the firm to resume operations in the country. This development follows the suspension of Worldcoin’s activities in August 2023.
Investigation Dropped
On June 14, 2024, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of the National Police Service announced that it had ceased its probe into Worldcoin. The decision came after Kenya’s public prosecution unit concurred, leading to the closure of the case without further police action.
“The DCI expeditiously and objectively investigated an array of allegations into the activities of Worldcoin in Kenya in 2022/3, touching on alleged unlawful collection and transfer of personal sensitive data,” the authority stated.
Recommendations for Worldcoin
Following the investigation’s conclusion, Kenyan police advised Worldcoin to ensure proper business registration and licensing. The recommendations included coordination with the Data Protection Commission and the Communication Authority of Kenya. Additionally, Worldcoin was urged to thoroughly vet and legally contract all third-party vendors operating within Kenya.
Positive Outlook for Worldcoin
Thomas Scott, Chief Legal Officer at Worldcoin developer Tools for Humanity, expressed gratitude for the fair investigation and the decision to close the matter. “This welcome result is, however, not an end but a beginning. We will continue working with the government of Kenya and others, and we hope to resume World ID registration across the country soon,” Scott said in a statement to Cointelegraph.
Worldcoin’s Mission and Challenges
Launched in July 2023 after three years of development, Worldcoin aims to differentiate humans from artificial intelligence by scanning individuals’ irises through its Intelligent Retrieval Information System (IRIS). After the scan, Worldcoin issues a World ID, allowing users to prove their human identity online.
Also Read: Worldcoin to Launch Its Own Ethereum Layer-2 Chain
However, Worldcoin’s digital ID offering has raised privacy and data protection concerns among global regulators. Shortly after its launch, Worldcoin faced a ban in Kenya, halting all local activities, including biometric identification. The company has since been working with the Kenyan government to resume operations in 2024.
Global Scrutiny
Kenya is not the only country scrutinizing Worldcoin. The company has faced investigations in several jurisdictions, including India, South Korea, Germany, and Brazil, over its data collection practices. In May 2024, Hong Kong authorities ordered Worldcoin to stop operations due to privacy violations.
Despite these challenges, Worldcoin has seen significant growth. By April 2024, the World App had 10 million registered users, with an average of 2 million daily users and more than 5 million monthly active users.
