Worldcoin Ordered To Stop Collecting Data From Kenyans
This was announced on Monday, May 5 by Lady Justice Aburili Roselyne, who declared that Worldcoin's activities went against the right to privacy that every Kenyan is entitled to.
Marvin Chege 
The High Court of Kenya has issued three orders against cryptocurrency firm, Worldcoin, a move which effectively declares all activities carried out by the firm in the country, illegal.
The first order saw the court bar the Worldcoin Foundation and its agents from further collecting, processing, or handling biometric data in Kenya without conducting a proper Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA), as required under Section 31 of the Data Protection Act.
The order also prohibits the use of consent obtained through the inducement of cryptocurrency (i.e., Worldcoin tokens) as a valid legal basis for data processing.
Stickers handed out to people who signed up for WorldCoin are seen at a sign-up site in Shoreditch, East London, Britain July 24, 2023. /REUTERS
"An order of prohibition restraining Worldcoin Foundation and its agents from further processing, collecting or dealing in Biometric data without undertaking (or using an inadequate) Data Protection Impact Assessment contrary to section 31 of the Data Protection Act, 2019 or using consent obtained by inducement of a cryptocurrency—Worldcoin," the orders read in part.
This was announced on Monday, May 5 by Lady Justice Aburili Roselyne, who declared that Worldcoin's activities went against the right to privacy that every Kenyan is entitled to.
In the second order, the court has nullified the decision by the Worldcoin Foundation and its agents to collect and process biometric data in Kenya, citing the lack of a valid DPIA and the use of incentivized consent as grounds for the ruling.
"An order of Certiorari quashing Worldcoin Foundation and its agent’s decision to collect or process biometric data 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," added the ruling.
In the third and final order, Worldcoin Foundation and its agents were directed to permanently delete, within seven days, all biometric data collected in Kenya without a proper DPIA and through consent obtained via cryptocurrency inducement. This deletion must be carried out under the supervision of the Office 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," added the orders.
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.
In 2023, thousands of Kenyans flocked to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) to have their biometric data captured by the cryptocurrency firm Worldcoin, lured by the promise of a Ksh7,000 reward.
However, the government quickly suspended the exercise, citing national security concerns, after massive crowds gathered in Nairobi’s Central Business District for eye and facial scans.
Despite the suspension, Worldcoin’s parent company, Tools for Humanity, announced in June 2024 that it intends to resume operations in Kenya. The announcement followed a decision by Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga to close the criminal case against the company.
Following months of investigation, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) advised the firm to engage with the Registrar of Companies for proper business registration should it wish to continue operating in Kenya.
Kenyans registering for Worldcoin in Nairobi in March 2023. /REST OF WORLD
