Portugal Halts WorldCoin Over Privacy Concerns 🚫🌐
Portugal has recently taken action to halt Sam Altman’s WorldCoin from gathering biometric data, showcasing escalating worries worldwide over privacy and data protection rights when dealing with technologies that collect sensitive personal information.
Portugal Bans WorldCoin from Operations
WorldCoin has a mission to establish a distinctive digital ID and financial network through the use of facial scans, gathering data from more than 4.5 million individuals in 120 countries. However, the project faced a setback in Portugal as the CNPD expressed concerns about the risk to citizen data protection, deeming immediate intervention necessary.
- The decision impacts a service used by over 300,000 Portuguese citizens.
- There have been complaints about unauthorized data collection, especially involving minors.
Reassurances from WorldCoin
Despite the suspension, Jannick Preiwisch, WorldCoin’s Data Protection Officer, defended the project’s compliance with legal standards and stated that corrective measures are being taken to address reported issues related to underage participation and consent withdrawal.
“The report from CNPD is the first time we are hearing from them regarding many of these matters, including reports of underage sign-ups in Portugal, for which we have zero tolerance for and are working to address in all instances, even if a matter of a few reports,” Preiwisch said.
Scrutiny and Regulatory Challenges
The situation in Portugal reflects a broader trend of skepticism and regulatory scrutiny facing WorldCoin, with countries like Spain and Kenya also taking measures to limit its operations. Concerns have been raised about the safety and ethical implications of biometric data collection.
- Privacy advocates and regulators question the effectiveness of protections against potential misuse or breach of personal data.
Positive Feedback from Vitalik Buterin
Despite these challenges, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin praised WorldCoin’s efforts to address privacy concerns, acknowledging the use of advanced cryptographic solutions that demonstrate the project’s commitment to evolving in response to criticisms.
“[WorldCoin] has been doing quite a good job of taking the privacy critiques seriously and designing its system to be more and more data-minimal. Modern cryptography is truly amazing,” Buterin said.
The Future of WorldCoin and Privacy Rights
As WorldCoin encounters regulatory obstacles globally, the discussion around digital identity and privacy rights continues to grow, marking a crucial moment at the intersection of technology, ethics, and regulation.
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