Germany’s Data Watchdog Investigates Worldcoin’s Biometric Data Collection

The Worldcoin project, launched by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has now come under the scrutiny of Germany’s data watchdog. Reuters reported that the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision is investigating the German subsidiary of the controversial initiative.

The report notes that the probe began in November 2022 and concerns the extensive processing of sensitive biometric data.

Worldcoin scans the iris of users to provide a digital ID and cryptocurrency. According to the website, the project has garnered 2.1 million sign-ups worldwide thus far.

Michael Will, the president of the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision, expressed apprehension regarding the large-scale processing of sensitive data. Will told Reuters that such processing could pose significant risks, particularly when dealing with highly-sensitive biometric data.

The official said,

“These technologies are at first sight neither established nor well analysed for the specific core purpose of the processing in the field of transferring financial information.”

Contrarily, Worldcoin’s website claims that it preserves privacy and encrypts personal data. While the Cayman Islands registers the global initiative, the EU’s data protection rules govern its European presence.

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