Kenya Orders Worldcoin to Erase Biometric Data

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Kenya Orders Worldcoin to Erase Biometric Data

Kenya’s High Court ordered Worldcoin to eradicate collected biometric data, citing constitutional breaches regarding data privacy as of May 5, 2025.

The ruling underscores significant regulatory challenges for cryptocurrency projects in data-sensitive regions, leading to a 10% dip in Worldcoin’s token value.

Worldcoin’s Biometric Data Collection Deemed Unconstitutional

The Kenya High Court declared Worldcoin’s biometric data collection unconstitutional. Following severe scrutiny from government agencies, this ruling mandates immediate data deletion.

Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency venture by Sam Altman , faced accusations of violating privacy laws. The High Court highlighted failures in conducting a Data Protection Impact Assessment.

Worldcoin Token Plummets 10% After Court Ruling

The decision negatively affected the market, causing a 10% decline in Worldcoin’s token value and spreading concern among participants and investors.

This ruling sets a precedent for heightened regulatory scrutiny on cryptocurrency projects, particularly those involving personal data collection, affecting their operational strategies.

Global Regulatory Challenges Echoes for Worldcoin

Worldcoin’s experience mirrors prior regulatory actions against it in Hong Kong, Spain, and Indonesia , often involving personal data issues.

Experts suggest that the current ruling could lead to similar measures across different regions, resulting in increased compliance costs and strategic shifts for affected organizations.

Worldcoin’s collection of biometric data was unconstitutional, failing to conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment as required by Section 31 of the Data Protection Act, 2019.” – Kenya High Court