Worldcoin, a digital identity and cryptocurrency project co-founded by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has achieved a significant victory in Kenya. In 2023, the project received a suspension order, and now, the Kenyan police have dropped their investigation into Worldcoin. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of the National Police Service released an official statement on June 14, 2024, in response to an update request from Worldcoin’s lawyers regarding the status of the investigation. The DCI, along with Kenya’s public prosecution unit, concurred and ordered the closure of the Worldcoin case without further police action.
In their statement, the DCI mentioned that they conducted a thorough and impartial investigation into various allegations concerning Worldcoin’s activities in Kenya in 2022 and 2023. These allegations included the unlawful collection and transfer of personal sensitive data.
After the investigation concluded, the Kenyan police recommended that Worldcoin ensure business registration in the country and obtain proper licensing, coordinated by the office of the Data Protection Commission and the Communication Authority of Kenya. Additionally, the authority advised Worldcoin to conduct intensive vetting and legal contracting with all third-party vendors operating in Kenya.
Thomas Scott, the chief legal officer at Tools for Humanity, the developer of Worldcoin, expressed gratitude for the fair investigation conducted by the DCI and the determination of the Director of Public Prosecutions to close the matter. Scott also expressed optimism about the future operations of Worldcoin in Kenya.
The Worldcoin project was officially launched in July 2023 after three years of development. Its mission revolves around providing tools to distinguish humans from artificial intelligence by scanning an individual’s Intelligent Retrieval Information System (IRIS). Once the scan is completed, Worldcoin issues a World ID, allowing individuals to authenticate their identity as real human beings online.
Worldcoin’s unique digital ID offering raised concerns among global regulators regarding the privacy and protection of users’ data. Several other countries, including India, South Korea, Germany, and Brazil, have also investigated Worldcoin’s data collection practices. In May 2024, Worldcoin was ordered to halt operations in Hong Kong due to privacy violations.
Despite facing initial challenges in some countries, the Worldcoin network has experienced significant growth since its launch. As of April 2024, the Worldcoin’s World App had garnered 10 million registered users in total, with an average of 2 million daily users and over 5 million monthly active users.
For more information about the project and its mission, listeners can look forward to an upcoming episode of the Decentralize with Cointelegraph podcast, in which Tools for Humanity, a key contributor to Worldcoin, will provide insights into the project.