Kenyan Authorities Accuse Worldcoin of Espionage and Threatening Statehood
Kenyan authorities have accused Worldcoin of engaging in acts of espionage and posing a threat to the country’s statehood. The accusations stem from an ongoing investigation by Kenya’s Ad hoc committee, which was initiated following concerns raised by the public regarding Worldcoin’s activities, according to local media reports.
Worldcoin had come under scrutiny for its alleged data mining practices in Kenya. It was reported that the company collected data from Kenyan citizens by scanning their irises in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens. In August of this year, the African country suspended Worldcoin’s operations.
This controversial operation took place across 30 locations in Nairobi, including malls and educational institutions, starting in May 2021.
Authorities Call For an Investigation into Worldcoin’s Parent Company
The committee, led by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, has called upon the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to conduct a thorough probe into two foreign companies associated with Worldcoin: Tools for Humanity (TFH) Corp and Tools for Humanity (TFH) Gmbh. These companies are suspected of operating illegally within Kenya and violating several Kenyan laws, including the Data Protection Act, Consumer Protection Act, and Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
However, these foreign entities do not appear in Kenya’s Business Registration Services database of registered businesses or companies, raising questions about their legal authorization to conduct business within the country. The report also highlights that Worldcoin applied for registration as a data controller a year after it had already begun its operations in Kenya, which is a violation of the Data Protection Act.
Kenyan Authorities Question How Worldcoin Stores Citizens’ Data
One of the main concerns surrounding Worldcoin’s activities is the transmission of real-time iris images, which are converted into digital code and sent to the company’s third-party servers located overseas. While Worldcoin claims that the collected data is securely stored in Amazon Web Services based in South Africa, uncertainties persist regarding the ability to retract and delete this data when necessary.
Questions have also been raised about whether the transfer of personal data outside Kenya complies with Section 48 of the Data Protection Act. The investigation revealed that approximately 350,000 Kenyans had registered with Worldcoin by the time the government suspended its activities on August 2, 2023.
Despite facing regulatory pushback, Worldcoin continues to attract a record number of new sign-ups globally.
Hot Take: Kenyan Authorities Crack Down on Worldcoin’s Alleged Espionage Activities
The Kenyan authorities have accused Worldcoin of engaging in espionage and endangering the country’s statehood. After concerns were raised by the public, an ongoing investigation by Kenya’s Ad hoc committee has shed light on Worldcoin’s alleged data mining practices, where it reportedly collected citizens’ data through iris scanning in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens. The government suspended Worldcoin’s operations earlier this year, and now they are calling for a thorough probe into two foreign companies associated with Worldcoin. Questions have also been raised about how Worldcoin stores citizens’ data and whether it complies with Kenyan laws. Despite these challenges, Worldcoin continues to attract new users worldwide.
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