Ouch! Hong Kong Bans Worldcoin Over Privacy Concerns
Hong Kong regulators have ordered Worldcoin to cease its operations, citing major privacy violations.
The key points raised in the ban are:
- Privacy Violations: Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) claims Worldcoin collected excessive biometric data—iris and face scans—without proper consent or transparency.
- Immediate Action: Worldcoin must stop all operations in Hong Kong immediately. Citizens are urged to report any continued activity.
- Unnecessary Data Collection: Authorities state that verifying someone's humanity didn't require face or iris scans. Operators could verify participants without invasive data collection.
- Worldcoin's Defense: Worldcoin, launched in 2022 by Tools For Humanity and co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, aims to combat bots by confirming users' identities with controversial iris scanners.
- Global Reach: The project claims over 10 million users in 160 countries, with 5 million verified through its Orbs.
- Security Concerns: The PCPD warns that any misuse of biometric data could have serious consequences.
- Open Source Move: In response to privacy concerns, Worldcoin recently open-sourced its technology on GitHub to promote transparency and trust.
In light of the ban, Worldcoin's WLD token has fallen 2% today.
