The Kenyan government has initiated an inquiry into the Worldcoin project, a cryptocurrency endeavor, according to recent reports.
Worldcoin, the cryptocurrency initiative, is currently under scrutiny in Kenya following the suspension of its operations in the country. The Kenyan government has established a parliamentary committee to investigate the project and its associated assets.
As reported by a local publication, The Star, a newly assembled ad-hoc committee comprising 15 members will be chaired by Gabriel Tongoyo, Member of Parliament for Narok West. The committee encompasses representatives from various departments including Administration and Internal Security, Communication and Innovation, and Tourism and Wildlife.
The committee has been granted 42 days to conduct a comprehensive review of Worldcoin before submitting their findings to the legislative body. This development follows the recent suspension of Worldcoin’s activities in Kenya, which occurred less than three weeks ago.
In May, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) in Kenya instructed Worldcoin’s parent company, Tools for Humanity, to halt the collection of personal data. The crypto startup was specifically directed to cease its practice of iris scans, facial recognition, and other forms of personal data collection within Kenya.
However, Worldcoin reportedly disregarded this initial directive and continued its operations until the Kenyan Ministry of Interior and Administration suspended the project after its official launch. The government expressed concerns about the project’s activities, which were perceived to pose significant security risks. Of particular concern was the registration of citizens through the collection of iris data.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure stated, “Relevant security, financial services, and data protection agencies have initiated inquiries and investigations to ascertain the authenticity and legality of the aforementioned activities.”
Several regulatory bodies in Kenya have also expressed disapproval of Worldcoin’s operational methods. In response to a court-ordered suspension of Worldcoin’s activities, Justice Nixon Sifuna mandated the preservation of data collected by the project between April 2022 and August 2023 until the conclusion of the legal proceedings.
The establishment of the committee in Kenya coincides with the planned appearance of Cabinet Secretaries Kithure and Eliud Owalo before Parliament to address the matter for a second time. Moses Wetangula, the National Assembly speaker, indicated, “In light of the foregoing, the two cabinet secretaries scheduled to appear before the House tomorrow will instead appear before the committee to provide information on the matter.”
The Worldcoin project gained substantial attention upon its official launch on July 24, 2023. The initiative was co-founded by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the organization behind the AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT.
However, the project’s hype was accompanied by controversies, particularly regarding its unique approach. This has led to scrutiny from regulatory authorities in various countries, including Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Germany, and now Kenya.
