Portugal bans Worldcoin for 90 days for jeopardising citizen privacy

Portugal’s data regulator ordered iris-scanning project Worldcoin to halt the collection of biometric data for 90 days due to concerns over citizens’ data protection rights . Portugal's National Data Protection Commission (CNPD) received dozens of complaints about Worldcoin 's unauthorised collection of data from minors, deficiencies in the information provided to the data subjects, and the impossibility of erasing the data or withdrawing consent . Over 300,000 people in Portugal have reportedly provided Worldcoin with their biometric data . Worldcoin’s data protection officer, Jannick Preiwisch, said that Worldcoin was fully compliant with all laws and regulations governing the collection and transfer of biometric data . The company also mentioned that it began a transition to “Personal Custody” in March, which would give users control over their data, including deletion and any future use . The order to stop data collection is temporary while the CNPD carries out additional due diligence and analyses complaints during an investigation . This is not the first time Worldcoin has faced such a suspension - Spain having issued a similar ban . System 🤖 Worldcoin iris biometrics Operator: Tools for Humanity/Worldcoin Developer: Tools for Humanity/Worldcoin Country: Portugal Sector: Banking/financial services Purpose: Deve lop digital identity Technology: Iris scanning; Facial detection; Vital signs detection; Blockchain; Virtual currency Issue: Privacy; Tr ansparency Legal, regulatory 👩🏼‍⚖️ Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados. CNPD suspende recolha de dados biométricos da Worldcoin (pdf)

Date it happened

2024-03-01

Organisation involved

Tools for Humanity

Product, system or model

The Orb

This is a record of what was reported, not a finding that anyone broke the law. If it names your organisation and you believe it is wrong, the corrections process is free and open to everyone.