Looks like Sam Altman’s Worldcoin, aka the World Foundation, has hit a major roadblock in Kenya. The High Court ordered the company to delete biometric data collected from local users after a privacy violation scandal. Talk about a wake-up call! On Monday, Justice Aburili Roselyne dropped the hammer, demanding the project wipe out all biometric data, including facial images and iris scans, within seven days, and the process must be supervised by the data protection officer. Ouch.
Worldcoin (WLD), which had previously been raking in sign-ups from Kenyan users like nobody’s business, now finds itself on the wrong side of the law. Kenya’s court ruled that the company didn’t have the proper clearance or impact assessments to gather sensitive data in the first place. So, they’ve been ordered to stop collecting biometric info—no more eye scans or face pics for Worldcoin in Kenya. At least for now.
JUDGMENT: High Court safeguards the right to privacy
— Katiba Institute (@katibainstitute) May 5, 2025
Today, Lady Justice Aburili Roselyne has allowed our Judicial Review Application, where we challenged the collection, processing, and transfer of iris and facial images (biometric data)using the World Coin App and the Orb… https://t.co/7SisPV7ZCd
The Privacy Concerns Keep Piling Up
The decision is a huge win for privacy advocates, with the ICJ Kenya declaring that even in the digital age, privacy rights under Article 31 of the Kenyan Constitution must still be respected. That is, it's not just about innovation in technology—human rights take precedence.
Worldcoin was aggressive in Kenya, where hundreds of thousands of subscribers had already signed up before the project was brought to a halt by local authorities in August 2023. But even following the setback, Worldcoin in June 2024 announced that it would try another run following the local police closing their inquiry. Will Kenya roll out the red carpet again? Not without some serious guarantees about privacy, it seems.
WorldCoin Case Judgment: The Court affirmed that WorldCoin commenced data collection without valid consent from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) and without conducting the required DPIA, in breach of Sections 25, 26, 29, 30, and 31 of the Data Protection Act,… pic.twitter.com/JwmwTn5CJd
— ICJ Kenya (@ICJKenya) May 5, 2025
Global Privacy Backlash for Worldcoin
Kenya isn't the only country raising its eyebrow at Worldcoin. In Indonesia, the digital ministry suspended Worldcoin’s operating permit over allegations of violating electronic system regulations. Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Worldcoin is pushing ahead with its expansion, launching in six cities—Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco.
But hey, all this drama isn’t doing Worldcoin’s token any favors. The price of WLD dropped 6.99% in the last 24 hours, now trading at $0.89 with a market cap of $1.2 billion. So, while Sam Altman’s vision of a digital identity utopia keeps facing hurdles, it seems like the road to success is a bit bumpier than expected.
HODL Team
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