The High Court has directed Worldcoin to delete biometric data it unlawfully collected from Kenyans using its iris-scanning orb in September 2023. The data deletion process will be carried out under the supervision of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC).

In its ruling, the Court also barred the cryptocurrency firm from processing any further biometric data without first conducting a comprehensive Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and obtaining valid consent from users.

During the proceedings, the ODPC argued that Worldcoin’s data collection activities violated the principles outlined in Section 25 of the Data Protection Act. The office warned that without the Court’s intervention, there was a risk that the personal data collected could be erased or altered, compromising the rights of Kenyan citizens.

Deputy Data Commissioner Oscar Otieno, in a sworn affidavit, stated that after reviewing the operations of Worldcoin in Kenya, he was convinced the project posed significant risks to the safety and privacy of Kenyans.

Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project co-founded by tech entrepreneur Sam Altman, was banned from operating in Kenya in 2023 after collecting biometric data from thousands of citizens in exchange for approximately $50 worth of cryptocurrency.

Despite the ban, Worldcoin announced its intentions to resume operations in Kenya in 2024.