By
Chimamanda U. Martha
April 25th, 2024
Worldcoin, despite its innovative approach to identity verification, has encountered significant backlash due to its data collection practices.
Authorities in South Korea are currently investigating Worldcoin (WLD) for potential violations of local privacy regulations. The probe, initiated on February 29, 2024, aims to assess Worldcoin’s collection, processing, and potential overseas transfer of sensitive personal information.
Worldcoin Faces Scrutiny in South Korea
In an official statement released on March 4, 2024, by the country’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), the national data protection agency, South Korea initiated the probe into Worldcoin following public complaints about the project’s data collection practices.
The PIPC’s investigation is specifically focused on Worldcoin’s handling of personal data, including how it collects and processes information, as well as any potential transfers of the data outside of South Korea. The commission said it will take appropriate action if any violations of local privacy regulations are discovered. So far, the crypto project has gathered data on individuals’ facial features and irises at ten locations across the country.
Worldcoin was one of the blockchain projects launched last year. The platform is designed to utilize iris scanning technology to authenticate a user’s identity and generate secure identification codes. The project’s creators claimed the codes are stored on a decentralized blockchain, ensuring their security and preventing duplication or spoofing for fraudulent activities or false identities.
Users who sign up on the platform receive World ID and the project’s crypto token WLD in exchange for allowing the platform to scan their irises.
Public Backlash and Previous Suspension
Worldcoin, despite its innovative approach to identity verification, has encountered significant backlash due to its data collection practices. This scrutiny first surfaced in Kenya last year, where the project was suspended amidst concerns regarding safety and privacy. The Kenyan Interior Ministry directed government agencies to investigate Worldcoin and evaluate its potential risks to the public.
In August 2023, Argentina also opened an investigation into the crypto project citing the same privacy and safety issues. The country’s data protection agency announced it was looking into the project’s collection, storage, and use of data to ensure it complies with the national laws.
Other countries such as France, and Germany are also probing Worldcoin for the same reasons.
Following the footsteps of these countries, Hong Kong initiated its own investigation into Worldcoin in January of this year, making it the first nation to probe the project in 2024.
The Hong Kong Office of the PCPD conducted investigations at six locations associated with the Worldcoin project, including Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, Cyberport, Central, and Causeway Bay. The PCPD suspects that Worldcoin may be violating Hong Kong’s Personal Data Privacy Ordinance and has cautioned the public to be cautious with their personal information.
Ada Chung Lai-ling, the PCPD Commissioner, issued a warning to the public to be careful of their personal data.
“Members of the public should carefully protect their sensitive personal data and avoid participating in any activities that collect sensitive personal data, such as iris scanning, arbitrarily,” he said.