The High Court in Nairobi has directed Sam Altman’s World project to delete all iris scans and other biometric details gathered in Kenya.
The ruling, issued on Monday, marks a wave of legal challenges over the crypto startup’s method of data collection.
It follows concerns that the World failed to get proper approval and misled participants with token incentives.
Lack of Proper Consent
Judges found that World and its local agents did not secure valid consent from Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner before collecting sensitive data.
Participants were offered fifty dollars worth of cryptocurrency in exchange for iris scans taken by the project’s so‑called orbs. The court said this inducement violated the law’s requirement for true informed consent.
Role of the Data Protection Commissioner
The office tasked with safeguarding personal data will now supervise the deletion of all records held by World.
In a sworn statement, Deputy Commissioner Oscar Otieno warned that the startup’s handling of biometric profiles risked unauthorised access, alteration or erasure. He told the court that the project lacked transparency and posed public safety concerns.
Legal Battle Led by Katiba Institute
The lawsuit was filed by the Katiba Institute, a non‑profit group focused on constitutional rights. Their lawyer, Joshua Malidzo Nyawa, praised the verdict as “a win for the right to privacy in Kenya.”
The group argued that World’s activities breached several sections of the Data Protection Act, including the requirement to carry out a Data Protection Impact Assessment before processing biometric data.
Also Read: Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Deploys Safe Core On World Chain, Price Drops 3%
Ban and Reprieve Earlier This Year
This decision comes after a previous block on the World in Kenya. Authorities halted the project last year amid outcry from civil society and law enforcers. One official went so far as to call the startup “a gang of criminals.”
After a police review ended in June 2024 without charges, the ban was lifted, allowing World to resume operations. The fresh court order now puts those efforts on hold once again.
Global Hurdles from Worldcoin
News of the Kenyan verdict landed hours after Indonesia’s communications ministry suspended World’s local registration. Indonesian regulators cited the use of unapproved legal entities and suspicious business practices.
In Singapore, police opened an inquiry into seven individuals who allegedly provided World accounts and token trading without proper approval. These actions reflect a widening crackdown on the project’s rapid expansion in emerging markets.
Worldcoin Token Price Actions
Investors reacted swiftly to the twin rulings. The token tied to the project, known as WLD, fell more than 7% in a single day. As of the court decision, it traded at eighty‑eight cents, with a global market capitalisation of approximately $1.18 billion. Traders and observers now watch closely for the next moves by regulators in other countries.
With Kenya and Indonesia taking action in rapid succession, World faces a deepening challenge to its claims of building a global identity network.
The company must now obtain formal approval, complete a full impact assessment, and secure genuine consent before it can resume collecting data anywhere in Kenya. Observers say this ruling could inspire similar legal fights in other regions.
Also Read: Worldcoin Expands Proof Of Humanness Technology To Austria