Portugal’s data protection authority, CNPD, has issued a 90-day stop order on the Worldcoin project due to concerns over biometric data collection.
Worldcoin, which offers a digital ID and free cryptocurrency in exchange for iris scans, has now enrolled over 4.5 million people globally. In Portugal, Worldcoin has reportedly enrolled over 300,000 people.
The CNPD’s decision follows complaints about unauthorized data collection from minors, insufficient information provided to participants, and difficulties in data deletion or consent withdrawal. The temporary suspension allows the CNPD to conduct further investigations into these complaints.
Responding to an inquiry from Reuters, Worldcoin Foundation’s Data Protection Officer, Jannick Preiwisch, suggested that the CNPD’s order came before the privacy regulator had even approached his company about its concerns.
“The report from CNPD is the first time we are hearing from them regarding many of these matters, including reports of underage sign-ups in Portugal, for which we have zero tolerance for and are working to address in all instances, even if a matter of a few reports,” he said.
The CNPD’s decision comes shortly after Worldcoin’s announcement that Trail of Bits, a respected team of cybersecurity experts, had concluded an audit of its handling of users’ biometric data. Trail of Bits gave broad approval to Worldcoin’s protocols, including its cryptographic methods, its lack of data storage on the iris-scanning devices, and its focus on collecting only that data that is required for its purposes.
The decision also arrives after Spain’s data privacy regulator issued its own three-month ban on Worldcoin, over similar concerns.
Source: Reuters
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March 28, 2024 – by the Mobile ID World Editorial Team
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