The Workplace of the Privateness Commissioner for Private Information (PCPD) in Hong Kong has initiated an investigation into Worldcoin over knowledge privateness issues associated to its assortment of biometric knowledge, based on a Jan. 31 press launch.
The PCPD stated it executed court docket warrants to enter six Worldcoin premises on Jan. 31 in Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, Cyperport, Central, and Causeway Bay.
Hong Kong raids
In accordance with the PCPD, the investigation focuses on the potential misuse of private knowledge, significantly the biometric knowledge collected by Worldcoin in change for cryptocurrency tokens. The regulator stated there are vital dangers in gathering such delicate knowledge, and there are issues that Worldcoin is in “contravention” of regulatory necessities associated to knowledge assortment and storage.
The PCPD’s motion goals to find out whether or not Worldcoin knowledge assortment practices adjust to the Private Information (Privateness) Ordinance (PDPO). The operation concerned the gathering of paperwork and knowledge from Worldcoin to overview its knowledge assortment and processing strategies.
The watchdog has suggested the general public to think about the need, objective, and retention interval of biometric knowledge assortment earlier than collaborating in such actions. The regulator emphasised the sensitivity of biometric knowledge, given its distinctive and unalterable nature.
The PDPO mandates that organizations gather private knowledge for lawful functions and safe the information in opposition to unauthorized or unintentional entry and use. It additionally restricts utilizing private knowledge for brand new functions with out specific consent.
The PCPD additionally requested that the general public submit any complaints and knowledge concerning Worldcoin’s knowledge practices.
Worldcoin’s regulatory woes
The Worldcoin mission is present process comparable investigations in a number of nations because of privateness issues over gathering biometric knowledge, notably iris scans, for digital id verification and cryptocurrency distribution.
The Bavarian State Workplace for Information Safety Supervision in Germany initiated its investigation in 2022, pushed by issues concerning the scale of delicate biometric knowledge processing. The probe focuses on the legality of Worldcoin’s practices underneath the EU’s strict knowledge safety laws, significantly scrutinizing problems with consumer consent and the readability of data offered to customers about their knowledge utilization.
Equally, the Argentine Company for Entry to Public Data (AAIP) launched an investigation into the mission after a surge in native curiosity. The AAIP is analyzing Worldcoin’s adherence to native knowledge safety legal guidelines, particularly specializing in how the corporate safeguards the privateness of its customers in Argentina. This contains reviewing the safety measures Worldcoin employs to guard the collected biometric knowledge.
In the meantime, the Kenyan authorities has suspended Worldcoin’s operations within the nation following an investigation deemed its actions to be “espionage.”The mission has been working with the authorities to resolve the scenario.
