French privacy watchdog CNIL has raised concerns about the legality of Worldcoin’s biometric data collection. Worldcoin, founded by Sam Altman, requires users to provide their iris scans to receive a digital ID and, in some countries, free cryptocurrency. Despite claiming to have signed up 2.1 million people during a two-year trial, the project’s data collection practices have come under scrutiny.
Worldcoin has established sign-up sites worldwide, where individuals can have their faces scanned by a spherical “orb.” Following the project’s launch, the UK’s data regulator also announced plans to investigate Worldcoin.
In response to a Reuters inquiry, CNIL expressed doubts about the legality of the data collection and the conditions for storing biometric data. CNIL stated that the investigation into Worldcoin falls under the jurisdiction of the Bavarian state authority in Germany. Consequently, the Bavarian authority is conducting the investigation with support from CNIL.
In defense of its practices, the Worldcoin Foundation, a Cayman Islands-based entity overseeing the project, stated that it adheres to all relevant laws and regulations governing personal data processing. The project is supervised in the European Union by the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision, and the Worldcoin Foundation expressed its commitment to cooperating with governing bodies on data protection inquiries.