Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Faces German Privacy Ultimatum Over Eye Scans

Privacy Concerns Spark Investigation into Altman's Crypto Project's Eye-Scanning Practices

  • German regulators order Worldcoin to implement GDPR-compliant data deletion protocol by January 19.
  • BayLDA investigation reveals concerns over biometric data processing and storage methods.
  • Project must secure explicit user consent for data processing and delete previously collected data lacking proper legal basis.
  • Multiple countries, including Kenya and Portugal, have suspended Worldcoin operations over privacy issues.
  • Worldcoin plans to appeal the German regulator’s decision.

German regulators have demanded OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s World ID project comply with European Union privacy standards, marking another setback for the controversial digital identity initiative that uses iris scanning technology for user verification.

- Advertisement -

The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA) announced Thursday that Worldcoin must implement General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant protocols for data deletion by mid-January, according to their official statement.

Regulatory Compliance Challenges

BayLDA President Michael Will emphasized the decision’s significance: "We are enforcing European fundamental rights standards in a technologically demanding and legally highly complex case."

The investigation centered on Worldcoin’s core technology – the "Orb" scanning device that creates unique digital identifiers from iris scans. Key compliance issues include:

  • Storage of iris codes in centralized databases
  • Lack of explicit user consent for data processing
  • Insufficient legal basis for data collection

Global Regulatory Scrutiny

The GDPR requirements represent just one facet of Worldcoin’s regulatory challenges. Since its 2023 launch, the project has faced:

  • Operations suspended in Kenya and Portugal
  • French CNIL investigation into data collection practices
  • Voluntary suspension of activities across EU nations

Despite implementing cryptographic protocols to anonymize data through encrypted fragments, BayLDA determined the measures insufficient for full GDPR compliance. The regulator’s decision affects all users who provided iris data to Worldcoin, granting them expanded rights to request data deletion.

The project, which rebranded to "World" in October 2023, introduced updated Orb devices with 30% fewer components and enhanced production capacity. However, privacy advocates continue to question the fundamental approach of collecting biometric data for digital identity verification.

- Advertisement -

Worldcoin’s appeal against the German regulator’s decision remains pending, while the project faces ongoing scrutiny from privacy watchdogs worldwide.

✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.

Previous Articles:

- Advertisement -

Latest

American Engineer Drugged, Robbed in Sophisticated London Crypto Heist

An American software engineer lost approximately $123,000 in cryptocurrency after being drugged and robbed in London.The victim was targeted by an impersonator posing as...

Max Keiser Doubts New Bitcoin Treasuries’ Discipline in Bear Market

Bitcoin-focused companies are increasingly copying the treasury strategy used by Michael Saylor's Strategy.Max Keiser raised doubts about whether these newer companies can maintain commitment...

South Korea Election Puts Crypto Policy at Center of Debate

Nearly one-third of South Koreans hold digital assets, making crypto a vital issue in the upcoming presidential election.Both major parties support crypto exchange-traded funds...

Scottsdale Residents Lose $6M to Crypto Scams; Police Respond

Scottsdale residents have reported losing over $6 million to cryptocurrency Scams in 2024.Authorities say actual losses could be higher, as not all cases are...

Ethereum Bullish Patterns Signal Altseason, 55% Rally Possible

Ethereum is showing two bullish chart patterns against Bitcoin, indicating a possible 30–55% price increase. Crypto analysts say an ETH/BTC rally could spark a broad...

Must Read

17 Best Audiobooks On Blockchain Technology For Beginners

If you're looking to dive into the world of blockchain technology, you're in for a treat. The field is rapidly evolving and the potential...