In today’s court news, The High Court has directed Worldcoin to permanently delete all biometric data unlawfully collected from Kenyan citizens using its “orb” devices. This deletion is to be carried out under the supervision of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC).
In its ruling, the court also barred the company from further processing such data unless it completes a proper Data Protection Impact Assessment or obtains valid, informed consent from users.
The court found that Tools for Humanity, the organization behind Worldcoin, violated several provisions of Kenya’s data protection laws. Notably, the court cited the lack of informed consent and criticized the company for using financial incentives to encourage people to participate.
Additionally, the court urged the government to develop and publish clear guidelines for the commercial use of personal data to promote transparency, accountability, and public confidence.