Worldcoin Halts Operations in Spain Amid Ongoing Data Protection Investigation

Worldcoin has agreed to suspend its activities in Spain until the end of the year or until a resolution is reached by the German data authority, following a probe into data protection practices.


Suspension Details

On June 4th, the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) announced that Tools for Humanity Corporation, behind Worldcoin, will halt data collection in Spain until the end of 2024 or until the ongoing investigation concludes, due to concerns over data handling.

German Investigation

The investigation is being led by the Bayerische Landesamt fรผr Datenschutzaufsicht (BayLDA) in Bavaria, Germany. The BayLDA is expected to conclude its investigation soon, with a final decision that aligns with the views of various European supervisory authorities, including those in Spain. In March 2024, Spanish authorities had already ordered Worldcoin to halt its data collection and processing activities.

Enhanced Security Measures

During the suspension, Worldcoin has improved its security by open-sourcing its biometric data system, allowing users to delete old iris codes, and implementing stricter age verification and iris code removal options.

Global Scrutiny

Spain and Germany are not the only countries scrutinizing Worldcoin's practices. On May 22, Hong Kong authorities ordered Worldcoin to stop operations due to concerns over the retention of sensitive biometric data for up to ten years for AI model training purposes.


Growing Momentum

Despite regulatory challenges, Worldcoin is expanding rapidly. In April 2024, it hit 10 million users and 70 million transactions. It also launched the World Chain blockchain network to enhance Web3 applications and plans to increase its token supply by up to 19% in the next six months.

The suspension in Spain and the investigation in Germany underscore the regulatory hurdles Worldcoin faces as it seeks to grow its controversial identity and financial network. $WLD

#WLD๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ #WLDToTheMoon #Worldcoin #SamAltman #BANNED