Worldcoin, the US-based cryptocurrency project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has permanently deleted all biometric data previously collected from Kenyan citizens.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), which regulates personal data in Kenya, confirmed that the data controller erased all information gathered from Kenyan users in September 2023.
This action follows a High Court ruling in May 2025, which found that Worldcoin had collected the biometric data unlawfully and ordered its permanent removal from the company’s database.
The ODPC verified the deletion and reiterated its commitment to enforcing data protection laws. The office noted that it will continue to hold all data controllers and processors accountable for any violations.
Kenya banned Worldcoin operations after the company gathered biometric data from thousands of citizens, offering $50 in exchange for their personal information.
The global Worldcoin project launched on June 24, 2023, with the aim of creating a decentralized digital currency. However, the initiative sparked major privacy concerns, especially over the security and handling of biometric data collected from Kenyan participants.
As part of the verification process, participants were required to scan their eyes using a device called an Orb to receive a digital identity, known as a World ID. Concerns escalated when new users received 25 free Worldcoin tokens (WLD), worth roughly Ksh.8,256 at the time, after completing the verification.
The Kenyan government halted all Worldcoin activities pending assurances from relevant agencies that the platform posed no security risks to citizens’ personal information.
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