French Privacy Supervisor Doubts Legality Of Biometric Data Collection In Worldcoin Project

Orb from Worldcoin in Paris. (photo: twitter @worldcoin)

JAKARTA - France's privacy watchdog, CNIL, stated on Friday July 28 that it was aware of the Worldcoin project founded by Sam Altman, the founder of ChatGPT, and that the legality of the collection of biometric data on the project was "defined".

Worldcoin, which launched on Monday, July 24, asked users to scan their slices in exchange for digital IDs and in some countries, free cryptocurrence. Its website says it has successfully registered 2.1 million people, mostly through trials over the past two years.

Worldcoin has set up registration locations in various places around the world, where people can scan their faces using a sparkling "orb". UK data watchdogs stated this week that they would investigate Worldcoin after its launch.

CNIL, France's watchdog, answered a question from Reuters about Worldcoin stating, "This data collection legality is doubtful, as well as the provisions of biometric data storage."

CNIL's emailed response to Reuters stated that it had started an investigation, which revealed that the Bayern state authorities in Germany had jurisdictions over the case. Bayern authorities have since conducted investigations with the support of CNIL.

Worldcoin is "designed to protect individual privacy and has built a strong privacy program" and is committed to ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, the Worldcoin Foundation said via email.The Worldcoin Foundation is based in the Cayman Islands and describes itself as a "Worldcoin protocol manager".

"The Worldcoin Foundation complies with all laws and regulations governing the processing of personal data in the market where Worldcoin is available," they said. This project is overseen in the European Union by the Bayern State Data Protection Audit Office, the Worldcoin Foundation added.

"This project will continue to cooperate with government agencies regarding requests for further information regarding the practice of privacy and protection of their data," they added.