Report: French Privacy Regulator Probes Worldcoin’s Biometric Data Practices

The French oversight agency, National Commission connected Informatics and Liberty (CNIL), has raised doubts astir the legality of Worldcoin’s biometric information postulation methods. Besides questioning the legitimacy of its information acquisition processes, CNIL is besides delving into however this biometric information is stored. Notably, Worldcoin has collected this information for implicit 2 cardinal registrants who person participated successful its project.

French Regulator CNIL Questions Worldcoin’s Biometric Data Storage

Worldcoin debuted past Monday, and based connected disposable information and footage of individuals enrolling, the task has been amassing momentum and recognition. In an email conversation with Reuters, CNIL disclosed to the media outlet that it was scrutinizing Worldcoin’s information gathering and has initiated inquiries. “The legality of this postulation seems questionable, arsenic bash the conditions for storing biometric data,” CNIL informed the quality platform.

Ahead of launching its worldcoin (WLD) token, Worldcoin asserted it had already enlisted much than 2 cardinal users. As of now, implicit 300,000 WLD token holders exist, and connected July 29, 2023, WLD documented upwards of 1 cardinal transactions. Moreover, the CEO of Openai and co-founder of Worldcoin, Sam Altman, presented a video revealing Worldcoin registrants queuing up to acquisition iris scans and shared that an idiosyncratic was being scanned “every 8 seconds.”

Even anterior to Worldcoin’s introduction, the task encountered backlash, and an article published by MIT Technology Review elaborate accusations of deceit and exploitation. In October 2021, erstwhile NSA contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden criticized the iris scanning inaugural telling Altman they should abstain from cataloging people’s eyeballs. In correspondence with Reuters, the French regulator disclosed its commencement of investigations into Worldcoin.

CNIL besides highlighted that Bavarian authorities are collaborating with the regulator successful examining Worldcoin’s information postulation practices. The Worldcoin Foundation responded to Reuters’ petition for remark concerning the investigation. The instauration noted that it falls nether the jurisdiction of the European Union and Bavarian authorities specified arsenic the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision. “[Worldcoin] is designed to support idiosyncratic privateness and has built a robust privateness program,” the Worldcoin Foundation stated successful its email.

Additionally, the radical emphasized that the task adheres to each laws and regulations wrong each jurisdiction wherever Worldcoin operates. “The task volition proceed to cooperate with governing bodies connected requests for much accusation astir its privateness and information extortion practices,” the Worldcoin Foundation added.

What bash you deliberation astir the French privateness regulator investigating Worldcoin’s practices? Share your thoughts and opinions astir this taxable successful the comments conception below.