Overview
The Worldcoin project, a brainchild of OpenAI’s co-founder, Sam Altman, is under the scanner in Europe over concerns regarding its biometric data collection methods.
Understanding the Worldcoin Phenomenon
Having made its debut just this Monday, Worldcoin presents users with the choice to provide an iris scan. In return, they receive a unique digital identity, and in some territories, even complimentary cryptocurrency. Records from their website indicate that over the past two years, approximately 2.1 million individuals have participated, primarily in a trial format. Worldcoin employs an innovative device, the “orb”, which scans faces. This device has been stationed at diverse locations across the globe for people to register.
Increasing European Scrutiny
Both France and Germany have now joined the ranks of countries expressing apprehensions about the crypto initiative. The CNIL, France’s privacy regulator, has voiced reservations about the “legality” of Worldcoin’s data collection methods and storage practices. Moreover, investigations initiated by the CNIL uncovered that the Bavarian state authority in Germany would be the appropriate jurisdiction for further probes. This German authority is presently spearheading the inquiry, with valuable input from the CNIL.
In the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office also confirmed earlier this week that it was “making enquiries”, emphasizing the necessity of a Data Protection Impact Assessment before commencing the collection of high-risk data.
Crypto Industry Titans Express Concerns
Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, recently articulated his concerns, stating that the Worldcoin project may have significant flaws. He emphasized that iris scans might unintentionally reveal intimate details about individuals, including their gender, ethnicity, or even health status.
Worldcoin’s Response and Future Plans
Despite the increasing scrutiny, Worldcoin continues to operate its orbs in these nations. According to Sam Altman, the enthusiasm surrounding Worldcoin has been overwhelming, with verifications occurring at a pace of one person every eight seconds. However, crunching the numbers paints a different picture – it could take years to gain widespread acceptance. As the year unfolds, Worldcoin intends to amplify its presence, aiming to quintuple its capacity for registrations.
Addressing the swirling privacy concerns, Worldcoin assured that it remains compliant with all pertinent laws and regulations, including the GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act. They added that they have conducted a thorough Data Protection Impact Assessment in the UK with assistance from a renowned legal firm and will address requests for data deletion promptly.
