TLDR
- Worldcoin will delete all biometric data collected from Kenyans in 2023 following a Supreme Court ruling.
- The Data Protection Commissioner oversaw the deletion of the data collected through iris scanning bulbs.
- The Kenyan government halted Worldcoin data collection in August 2023 due to privacy concerns.
- Other countries, including Indonesia, Spain, Thailand and Portugal, have also suspended Worldcoin’s operations over privacy concerns.
- Worldcoin has not resumed its data collection activities in Kenya following the legal action and government suspension.
World currency has deleted all personal biometric data it collected from Kenyans in 2023, according to a court order. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner confirmed that the deletion process took place under his supervision. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that found the company had unlawfully collected biometric data from Kenyan citizens.
Court orders data deletion
On May 5, 2025, the Kenyan High Court ruled that Worldcoin had collected biometric information without proper consent. The court ordered the company to permanently destroy the data within seven days.
Tools For Humanity, the company behind Worldcoin, carried out the removal under the supervision of the Data Protection Commissioner. The office confirmed the deletion of all data previously collected using iris scanning bulbs.
The Data Protection Commissioner did not disclose the total amount of data collected during the exercise. However, it emphasized its commitment to enforcing data protection laws. The agency assured the public that it would hold any company accountable for non-compliance.
Worldcoin suspended in Kenya
Worldcoin started collecting biometric data in Kenya in 2023, drawing large crowds in Nairobi. Participants scanned their irises in exchange for digital identities called World ID, which gave them access to cryptocurrency services.
The company also offered participants 25 free cryptocurrency tokens, valued at about Sh8,200 at the time. The Kenyan government stopped data collection on August 2, 2023 due to data privacy concerns.
Worldcoin’s collection methods had raised alarms about the security of personal information. Since the suspension, Worldcoin has not resumed data collection activities in Kenya.
Global response to Worldcoin’s practices
Kenya is not the only country that has suspended Worldcoin’s operations. Other governments, including those of Indonesia, Spain, Hong Kong and Portugal, have also expressed concerns. They suspended or limited the project due to privacy and data protection concerns. These actions have brought increasing scrutiny to Worldcoin’s global operations.
Thailand has also taken a step, as we reported earlier. The Thai government has ordered Worldcoin to cease operations and delete user data after violating the country’s data protection laws. Authorities alleged that the platform had violated the Personal Data Protection Act, which regulates the collection and use of data.
Following a raid on an iris scanning site in October, the Economic and Social Development Board ordered Worldcoin to delete the biometric data. Despite the recent suspension, Worldcoin had previously conducted a pilot program in Kenya and other countries including Chile and Indonesia. Currently, the company has not resumed operations in the country due to legal rulings.
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