A High Court ruling on Monday, May 5, has ordered the Worldcoin Foundation to delete the iris and facial data collected from Kenyans within seven days under the supervision of the Data Protection Commissioner.
"An order of Mandamus compelling the Worldcoin Foundation and its agents to permanently delete (under the supervision of the Data Protection Commissioner) within seven days any biometric data collected in Kenya without undertaking (or using an inadequate) Data Protection Impact Assessment contrary to section 31 of the Data Protection Act, 2019 and by consent obtained through inducement of a cryptocurrency—Worldcoin," the orders read.
This is just one among the three orders issued by Lady Justice Aburili Roselyne, who declared that Worldcoin's activities went against the right to privacy that every Kenyan is entitled to.
Another prohibition order issued was that Worldcoin Foundation and its agents refrain from further processing, collecting or dealing in Biometric data.
An order of Certiorari quashing Worldcoin Foundation and its agents’ decision to collect or process biometric data in Kenya was also issued.
This follows an application by the Katiba Institute challenging the collection, processing, and transfer of biometric data using the Worldcoin App and the Orb against the Worldcoin Foundation.
"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 against the Worldcoin Foundation," Katiba Institute wrote.
In 2023, thousands thronged the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) to have their data taken by the cryptocurrency company with a promise of Ksh7,000.
Days into the exercise, it was halted by the government due to security concerns after Kenyans turned in large numbers in the Central Business District to have their eyes and faces screened.
Despite its eventual suspension in Kenya, the Worldcoin developer, Tools for Humanity, announced in June 2024 that the company would resume its operations in the country following the decision by Director of Public Prosecution Renson Ingonga to close the case.
"We will continue working with the government of Kenya and others and we hope to resume World ID registration across the country soon," he added.
After months of investigation, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had asked the company to consider business registration services in liaison with the Registrar of Business Registry if it decides to continue operations in the country.
