Worldcoin, a digital ID platform co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, officially launched this week. The company aims to provide users with a verified digital identity, a cryptocurrency token, and a crypto wallet app. Worldcoin says that advances in AI have made it difficult to tell whether online activity came from real humans or AI and that its platform will help resolve this confusion by deploying a sort of digital passport based on what it calls “proof of personhood.”
Locally, Kenyans have been exctited about the development as reported by multiple media outlets, and based on social media buzz. Now, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has warned Kenyans about the new currency, especially in matters regarding data protection.
The Data Protection Commissioner Immaculate Kassait is urging Kenyans to be vigilant about their data in light of the launch of WorldCoin, a company that collects iris data. The ODPC is aware that WorldCoin is processing sensitive personal data and that they have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act 2019. It is currently assessing WorldCoin’s practices, but in the meantime, Kenyans should be sure to get all the information they need before disclosing any personal or sensitive data. They should also ask questions about how their data will be used.
“It is the responsibility of data controllers to ensure that personal data is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Failure to do so puts individuals’ privacy at risk and exposes an organization to legal and reputational consequences,” she remarked. The ODPC is committed to ensuring that entities processing personal data in Kenya comply with the Data Protection Act, 2019. The office will continue to engage with organizations to promote compliance with the law and protect the privacy of Kenyans,” says the Data Protection Commissioner.
