CNIL France Conducts Examination At Paris Worldcoin Office Regarding Biometric Data

Orb from Worldcoin in Osaka, Japan. (photo: twitter @worldcoin)

JAKARTA - France's data watchdog, CNIL, conducted a "check" at the Worldcoin office in Paris this week. This comes amid global regulatory pressure on digital currency companies co-founded by Sam Altman, co-founder of ChatGPT.

France's CNIL announced in July that it was investigating Worldcoin because its biometric data legality "appears doubtful".

"The inspection activity took place at Worldcoin offices," a CNIL spokesman said on Thursday, August 31. He confirmed a previous Politico report that the visit took place on Wednesday, August 30. The spokesperson did not provide further details.

Worldcoin asks users to scan their eye slices as exchanges for digital identity and, in some countries, as exchanges for free cryptocurrencies. Its website says it has registered 2.1 million people, mostly in trials over the past two years.

The Worldcoin Foundation, based in the Cayman Islands, told Reuters in an email: "The Worldcoin team welcomes every opportunity to answer questions about the goals and technology of this project."

In response to a preliminary investigation by CNIL in July, the Worldcoin Foundation stated that Worldcoin is designed to protect individual privacy, has built a strong privacy program, and is committed to meeting regulatory requirements.