World coin is set to resume operations as The Kenyan police dropped the investigation into allegations that it had illegally collected and transferred user’s data. Per letter recently issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and addressed to the firm’s legal team, the investigation has been “closed with no further police action.”
Meanwhile, it called on the firm to register the business officially, obtain necessary licenses, and vet its vendors “for prudent continued operations.”
“The DCI objectively investigated an array of allegations into the activities of World coin in Kenya 2022/23 and touching on alleged unlawful collection and transfer of personal data and sensitive data,” the letter reads in part.
The Cryptocurrency, which is a project led by OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, has since been involved in collecting biometric data by photographing a person’s iris while promising Kenyans a reward of Sh7000($52.83) and free World Coin tokens in exchange.
Thomas Scott, Chief Legal Officer of Worldcoin parent company, Tools for Humanity noted this development is “not an end but beginning.”
“For today, we are just pleased to return our focus to advancing Worldcoin mission: Creating opportunities for people in Kenya and elsewhere to participate in the global economy” he acknowledged.
In August 2023, Kenya’s ministry of Interior and National administration suspended the activities of the crypto project assessing its potential risks to public safety. In the same month, a lawsuit was filed by the office of data protection Commissioner (ODPC) to prohibit it from transferring or processing data collected from Kenyans.
Subsequently, police officers raided a warehouse in Nairobi belonging to crypto company seizing machines and documents. In March 2024 the country reiterated its position on the suspension amid pressure from the US. Kithure Kindiki, the interior Cabinet Secretary said that the US believes that cryptocurrency has grounds to operate in Kenya. However, the country remains adamant and has opted against reconsidering suspension.
