von • France’s privacy watchdog reportedly questions Worldcoin’s biometric data collection.
• The CNIL has said it opened investigations after Worldcoin collected data from users in France.
• UK’s The Information Commissioner’s Office also announced it was looking into Worldcoin.
Worldcoin Launches with Biometric Data Collection
On Monday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman launched his new project, Worldcoin (WLD). To access the digital ID and free cryptocurrency, users are required to scan their irises using an orb. This biometric data collection has caused both France and the United Kingdom to open investigations of the project.
France’s CNIL Opens Investigation
The Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL) is reportedly examining legal issues around Worldcoin’s data collection following its launch this week. A Reuters report published on July 28 indicates that CNIL has opened an investigation after learning that Worldcoin had collected data from users in France.
UK Investigates Following Launch
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) also announced they are looking into the project shortly after its launch. ICO will be examining potential issues as people increasingly sign up for a “proof of personhood” and scan their eyeballs for a World ID every 7.6 seconds.
Increased Sign Ups Since Launch
Since its launch, proof of personhood demand has surged leading to an average one unique human verifying their world ID every 7.6 seconds with new records being set daily according to the official Twitter account of Worldcoin (@worldcoin).
Regulatory Attention of Data Collection
As more and more people sign up for the opportunity to get a digital ID and free cryptocurrency worldwide, regulators have begun to pay attention to how companies like Worldcoin collect user data, particularly biometrics such as eye scans or fingerprints. Both France and the UK have opened investigations into possible issues regarding these regulations since the launch of Worldcoin earlier this week.
