According to ChainCatcher and reported by TheBlock, the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision in Germany ordered Worldcoin's human verification project to delete biometric data collected through iris scanning. Worldcoin stated that it has changed its processes, and the findings of the German regulatory authority 'largely' pertain to 'outdated operations and technologies that have been replaced in 2024.'
The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision concluded its investigation that began in April 2023, stating in a statement on Wednesday: 'Worldcoin is obliged to provide a deletion procedure that complies with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) within one month after the decision comes into effect, and to delete certain previously collected data records without sufficient legal basis.'
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that measures have been taken in recent months to alleviate regulators' concerns, including transitioning to a system where Worldcoin no longer stores biometric data. To comply with GDPR requirements, the iris codes used to verify individual World IDs will no longer be stored, and previously collected iris codes will be voluntarily deleted to ensure that personal data used to operate World IDs is not retained.