Kenyan Police Raid Worldcoin Warehouse
Kenyan police officers have raided a warehouse belonging to the crypto project Worldcoin, seizing documents and machines for investigation. The raid was conducted following the Kenyan government’s order to suspend Worldcoin’s registration and token distribution. The project, which aims to differentiate humans from AI bots using a proof-of-person concept, requires users to scan their irises for biometric verification. Concerns have been raised about privacy violations, despite assurances from the project’s team that user data is not stored. The machines seized from the warehouse have been taken for analysis and investigation.
Key Points:
- Kenyan police raided a warehouse belonging to crypto project Worldcoin.
- The raid followed the government’s suspension of Worldcoin’s registration and token distribution.
- Worldcoin uses biometric verification to differentiate humans from AI bots.
- Privacy concerns have been raised about the project’s data collection methods.
- The seized machines have been taken for analysis and investigation.
Worldcoin Not Registered in Kenya
The Kenyan Capital Markets Authority has expressed concerns about Worldcoin’s registration activities, stating that the project is not regulated in the country. Despite claiming compliance with Kenyan regulations, Worldcoin is not registered as a legal entity. The project chose Kenya as its first African country of operation due to its growing tech space and crypto trading population. Data protection agencies in France, Germany, and the UK are also examining the project to ensure compliance with data regulations.
Hot Take:
The raid on Worldcoin’s warehouse and the subsequent investigation highlight the regulatory challenges faced by crypto projects. The privacy concerns raised by Worldcoin’s biometric verification method raise important questions about the balance between security and individual privacy in the crypto space. It remains to be seen how the investigation will impact the future of Worldcoin and the broader crypto industry in Kenya.