8 months ago
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) successful Hong Kong has initiated an probe into Worldcoin implicit information privateness concerns related to its postulation of biometric data, according to a Jan. 31 press release.
The PCPD said it executed tribunal warrants to participate six Worldcoin premises connected Jan. 31 successful Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, Cyperport, Central, and Causeway Bay.
Hong Kong raids
According to the PCPD, the probe focuses connected the imaginable misuse of idiosyncratic data, peculiarly the biometric information collected by Worldcoin successful speech for cryptocurrency tokens. The regulator said determination are important risks successful collecting specified delicate data, and determination are concerns that Worldcoin is successful “contravention” of regulatory requirements related to information postulation and storage.
The PCPD’s enactment aims to find whether Worldcoin information postulation practices comply with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO). The cognition progressive the postulation of documents and accusation from Worldcoin to reappraisal its information postulation and processing methods.
The watchdog has advised the nationalist to see the necessity, purpose, and retention play of biometric information postulation earlier participating successful specified activities. The regulator emphasized the sensitivity of biometric data, fixed its unsocial and unalterable nature.
The PDPO mandates that organizations cod idiosyncratic information for lawful purposes and unafraid the information against unauthorized oregon accidental entree and use. It besides restricts utilizing idiosyncratic information for caller purposes without explicit consent.
The PCPD besides requested that the nationalist taxable immoderate complaints and accusation regarding Worldcoin’s information practices.
Worldcoin’s regulatory woes
The Worldcoin task is undergoing akin investigations successful respective countries owed to privateness concerns implicit collecting biometric data, notably iris scans, for integer individuality verification and cryptocurrency distribution.
The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision successful Germany initiated its investigation successful 2022, driven by concerns astir the standard of delicate biometric information processing. The probe focuses connected the legality of Worldcoin’s practices nether the EU’s strict information extortion regulations, peculiarly scrutinizing issues of idiosyncratic consent and the clarity of accusation provided to users astir their information usage.
Similarly, the Argentine Agency for Access to Public Information (AAIP) launched an probe into the task aft a surge successful section interest. The AAIP is examining Worldcoin’s adherence to section information extortion laws, specifically focusing connected however the institution safeguards the privateness of its users successful Argentina. This includes reviewing the information measures Worldcoin employs to support the collected biometric data.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan authorities has suspended Worldcoin’s operations successful the state pursuing an probe deemed its activities to beryllium “espionage.”The task has been moving with the authorities to resoluteness the situation.
The station Hong Kong authorities investigating Worldcoin implicit information privateness concerns appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.
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