The National Data Protection Commission CNPD Portugal bans Worldcoin from collecting biometric data for 3 months.
CNPD said this restriction applies until the investigation is concluded and a final decision is made. The ban applies to iris, eye and facial biometric data.
Portugal bans Worldcoin from collecting biometric data
CNPD issued the ban for several reasons. First, Worldcoin is said to have “no mechanism to verify the age of members.” The platform is accused of collecting data from minors without their parents' permission.
Furthermore, Worldcoin does not provide enough information to users about some issues. This makes it impossible for users to delete their data or revoke consent.
CNPD said the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) includes special protections for both biometric data and minors. The agency also mentioned other violations of GDPR standards. CNPD says that all of these factors justify urgent intervention against Worldcoin.
Paula Meira Lourenço – President of CNPD called the new measures “necessary” at the present time. They will protect the rights of the public and minors.
Worldcoin Denies Violations
According to Reuters, Worldcoin has denied any wrongdoing. The platform states that it does not allow minors to register via ORB.
Jannick Preiwisch from the Worldcoin Foundation said that they “fully comply with all laws and regulations” in their area of operation.
Preiwisch said Worldcoin had not heard from CNPD about these issues before. He affirmed that Worldcoin has “zero tolerance” for the registration of minors. The project is addressing the reports that came out recently.
The platform introduced a user-controlled Personal Management model. It gives greater data control to users. They announced the new model on March 22 when they released the open source Orb software.
Similar Ban in Spain
Spain has also imposed a 3-month data collection ban on Worldcoin. The order was issued on March 6 for similar reasons. The collection of biometric data has raised concerns in several other countries. Kenya calls it “espionage.”
Worldcoin's biometric data collection is not just a one-country problem. With Spain and Portugal speaking out, a wave of concerns about personal data security and privacy is gradually spreading.
The story of Worldcoin and CNPD's interventions is not just a single event. It's part of a larger conversation about the need to regulate technology, ensuring that innovations don't come with undue intrusion on personal privacy. As this story shows, in an increasingly digital world, protecting personal data becomes an important part of everyday life and the sustainability of technology.