Argentinian Authorities Participate in Investigating Worldcoin Crypto Project Over Privacy Concerns

Illustration of the Orb Worldcoin in London. (photo: twitter @worldcoin)

JAKARTA - Authorities in Argentina are the latest to investigate the Worldcoin cryptocurrency project over privacy concerns. In an announcement on August 8, the Argentine Public Access Agency for Information (AAIP) announced that it is investigating Worldcoin regarding the collection, storage and use of customer data to ensure that the project complies with security and privacy regulations.

Worldcoin launched its token project in July with the aim of verifying users via retina scans, causing many concerns regarding privacy.

"Citizens have the right, whenever personal data is provided, to have clear and accessible information regarding the assignment, use, and purposes for which data is collected and processed, especially regarding sensitive data, such as biometric data," said AAIP, quoted by Cointelegraph.

More than 2 million accounts have signed up for Worldcoin prior to the launch of its token in July. However, following the retinal scanner distribution, reports indicated that Germany's Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision announced an investigation into privacy concerns, while the French National Commission on Informatics and Freedom called the project's data collection methods "dubious."

On August 2, Kenya's Minister of Homeland Security announced that the country would suspend Worldcoin's local operations until authorities had a chance to assess the potential risks to residents. Local media reported on August 7 that Kenyan police conducted a search of Worldcoin properties, seizing equipment that may contain user data.