The French National Commission on Informatics and Liberty (CNIL), which serves as France’s data protection agency, is raising concerns about the data collection practices employed by Worldcoin, as per a Reuters report.
In an email sent to Reuters on July 28, CNIL expressed doubt regarding the legality of the data collection process and the conditions under which biometric data is being stored by Worldcoin.
The commission further revealed that it had already launched investigations into the matter and was cooperating with the Bavarian state authority in Germany, which is also looking into the issue.
Additionally, it was reported by Reuters on July 25 that Worldcoin might face inquiries from data regulators in the United Kingdom after its launch.
Worldcoin, the brainchild of OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, was officially launched on June 24.
The project requires users to submit a scan of their iris in exchange for a digital ID and free cryptocurrency.
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The initiative has seen considerable interest, with approximately 2.1 million people signing up during the trial period over the past two years, according to the company’s website.
Since its official launch, Worldcoin boasted on Twitter (which is undergoing rebranding to X) that a new World ID is being verified every 7.6 seconds by a unique human, and new records are being set daily.
Pictures of Worldcoin orbs in different cities worldwide, including Seoul, Mexico City, and Paris, have been posted on Twitter since the launch on July 24.
The reception within the crypto community has been mixed. While some users believe that Worldcoin’s centralization could lead to potential failures, others argue that proof-of-personhood is crucial, especially with the increasing presence of AI.
Reports have emerged indicating that Worldcoin has struggled to attract new sign-ups since its launch.
The three designated locations in Hong Kong reportedly only saw around 200 sign-ups on the first day, with a total of 600 sign-ups overall.
However, co-founder Sam Altman disputed these claims by posting a video of a long line of people in Japan waiting to complete iris scans on the following day.
In conclusion, Worldcoin’s data collection methods have come under scrutiny from data protection authorities, with questions raised about the legality of the process and the storage of biometric data.
Despite significant interest and participation, the initiative has faced both praise and criticism within the crypto community.
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