France’s privacy watchdog has raised concerns about the legality of Worldcoin’s biometric data collection, as reported by Reuters.
Earlier this week, Worldcoin launched a project that distributes tokens to individuals simply for being unique. To verify their uniqueness and receive the tokens, participants undergo an eyeball scan using a device known as “The Orb.”
The French regulator, CNIL, stated, “The legality of this collection seems questionable, as do the conditions for storing biometric data.” They are supporting an investigation into these matters by the Bavarian state authority in Germany, which has jurisdiction over the issue.
Worldcoin co-founders, including Sam Altman, argue that their initiative could facilitate “universal access to the global economy regardless of country or background” and promote “global democratic processes” in the context of AI advancements. However, the project has faced criticism regarding privacy issues since its announcement in 2021, with Edward Snowden among those voicing concerns.
In May, following a $115 million funding round, Spencer Bogart of Blockchain Capital, an initial skeptic, commented on the project’s seemingly “Orwellian” nature. He described it as a concerning amalgamation of hardware, biometrics, and cryptocurrency. However, after further examination, Bogart now asserts that “World ID is a privacy-preserving identity protocol that does not collect or store anyone’s biometric information.”