Global: French Privacy Watchdog Raises Concerns over Worldcoin’s Data Collection

France’s privacy watchdog has expressed doubts about the legality of Worldcoin’s biometric data gathering, stating that the collection of such data “seems questionable,” as reported by Reuters.

Worldcoin, launched recently, aims to distribute tokens to individuals based on their uniqueness. To verify their identity and receive the token, individuals are required to have their eyeballs scanned using a hardware device called “The Orb.”

The French regulator, CNIL, has voiced its concerns, saying, “The legality of this data collection seems questionable, as do the conditions for storing biometric data.”

The matter is being further investigated by the Bavarian state authority in Germany, which holds jurisdiction.

Worldcoin’s co-founders, including Sam Altman, have touted the platform as a means to provide “universal access to the global economy regardless of country or background” and facilitate “global democratic processes” in the era of artificial intelligence.

Despite these aspirations, the project has faced backlash and privacy concerns since its announcement in 2021, with figures like Edward Snowden raising objections.

In May, when Worldcoin secured $115 million in funding, one investor from Blockchain Capital, Spencer Bogart, initially shared concerns, describing it as “Orwellian in nature” and appearing to be a combination of hardware, biometrics, and cryptocurrency that may raise apprehensions.

However, upon further investigation, Bogart now maintains that “World ID is a privacy-preserving identity protocol that does not collect or store anyone’s biometric information.”