By 
Kenyan officials are intensifying their efforts to address concerns surrounding the Worldcoin project, which they accuse of engaging in espionage activities in the East African nation.
An ad hoc parliamentary committee is calling for the immediate termination of digital ID and cryptocurrency provider Worldcoin’s operations in Kenya, pending the enactment of more stringent regulations, as reported by Reuters news agency.
Quoting a report published by the committee, Reuters revealed that Kenya should “disable the virtual platforms of Tools for Humanity Corp and Tools for Humanity GmbH Germany (Worldcoin), including blacklisting the IP addresses of related websites.”
While several nations have embraced the Worldcoin project, others, like Kenya, have raised objections. Investigations into the project are also ongoing in Argentina, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Germany, where Worldcoin is headquartered.
On August 31, Reuters reported that CNIL, France’s digital business regulatory authority, conducted a search at Worldcoin’s offices in Paris to assess the status of its cryptocurrency operations.
Worldcoin executives claim that 2.3 million individuals worldwide have enrolled in the iris biometrics-secured World ID since the project’s launch in July. CEO Alex Blania has been actively promoting the project, stating that the company’s wallet, known as the World app, has 1.7 million monthly active users.
Kenyan officials expressed suspicions about Worldcoin shortly after its launch, citing concerns about the requirement for individuals to undergo iris biometric scans for inclusion in a digital ID.
The fact that Blania provides Worldcoin tokens to applicants has raised further questions among legislators, with some viewing it as an inducement. Consequently, they have authorized the police to investigate Tools for Humanity, according to the news service.
The committee, as reported by the International Business Times, has characterized the Worldcoin project as “acts of espionage and a threat to statehood.”
Comments