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TLDR
- Worldcoin deletes all biometric data gathered from Kenyans in 2023 following a High Court ruling.
- The Data Protection Commissioner oversaw the deletion of the data collected via iris-scanning orbs.
- The Kenyan government halted Worldcoin’s data collection in August 2023 due to privacy concerns.
- Other countries, including Indonesia, Spain, Thailand, and Portugal, have also suspended Worldcoin’s operations over privacy issues.
- Worldcoin has not resumed its data collection activities in Kenya following the legal actions and government suspension.
Worldcoin has erased all personal biometric data it gathered from Kenyans in 2023, as per a court order. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner confirmed that the deletion process took place under its supervision. This move follows a High Court ruling that found the company had unlawfully collected biometric data from Kenyan citizens.
Court Orders Data Deletion
On May 5, 2025, Kenya’s High Court ruled that Worldcoin had collected biometric information without proper consent. The court directed the company to destroy the data permanently within 7 days.
Tools For Humanity, the firm behind Worldcoin, carried out the deletion under the oversight of the Data Protection Commissioner. The office confirmed the deletion of all data previously collected using iris-scanning orbs.
The Data Protection Commissioner did not reveal the total amount of data collected during the exercise. However, it emphasized its commitment to enforcing data protection laws. The office assured the public that it would hold any firm accountable for non-compliance.
Worldcoin Suspended in Kenya
Worldcoin began collecting biometric data in Kenya in 2023, attracting large crowds in Nairobi. Participants scanned their irises in exchange for digital identities called World ID, which allowed them to access cryptocurrency services.
The company also offered 25 free cryptocurrency tokens to participants, valued at around Sh8,200 at the time. The Kenyan government halted the data collection exercise on August 2, 2023, citing concerns over data privacy.
Worldcoin’s collection methods had raised alarms regarding the safety of personal information. Since the suspension, Worldcoin has not resumed any data collection activities in Kenya.
Global Response to Worldcoin’s Practices
Kenya is not the only country to suspend Worldcoin’s operations. Other governments, including those of Indonesia, Spain, Hong Kong, and Portugal, have also raised concerns. They have suspended or restricted the project due to privacy and data protection issues. These actions have put Worldcoin’s global operations under increasing scrutiny.
Thailand also took a step, as we had reported earlier. Thailand’s government ordered Worldcoin to halt operations and delete user data after violating the country’s data protection laws. Authorities claimed the platform breached the Personal Data Protection Act, which governs data collection and usage.
Following a raid on an iris-scanning location in October, the Economic and Social Development Board instructed Worldcoin to delete the biometric data. Despite the recent suspension, Worldcoin had previously run a pilot program in Kenya and other countries, including Chile and Indonesia. As of now, the company has not resumed its activities in the country due to legal rulings.
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