Kenya suspends WorldCoin activities over safety concerns
GOOBJOOG NEWS | NAIROBI: The Kenyan Government has suspended the activities of the cryprocurrency project Worldcoin in the country to allow conclusion of investigations aimed at establishing the safety of date being collected.
The country’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki in a statement released Wednesday said the suspension will remain in effect until assurances of public safety and the integrity of financial transactions are satisfactorily provided.
“The government has suspended forthwith activities of World Coin and any other entity that may be similarly engaging the people of Kenya until relevant public agencies certify the absence of any risks to the general public whatsoever,” reads the statement in part.
He added, “Appropriate action will be taken on any natural or juristic person who furthers, aids, abets or otherwise engages in or is connected with the activities afore described.”
The suspension comes just days after the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) issued an advisory against the project, urging Kenyans to heighten their vigilance and ensure that they receive proper information before disclosing any personal or sensitive data.
Worldcoin is a new project by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman where users are required to provide their iris scans in exchange for digital identification and free cryptocurrency called Worldcoin token.
- By Fauxile Kibet