A man being scanned in Nairobi, Kenya
By The Peak
The office of the Data Commissioner in the country has moved to court over Worldcoin which collected human data by scanning eyeballs to verify one’s humanity.
The agency wants the High Court to order the protection of the data collected pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigations by the country’s investigative agencies.
Mr Oscar Otieno, the country’s Deputy Data Commissioner states in an affidavit tabled in the court that a review of the Worldcoin project in the country has shown that the processing of personal data does not adhere to the principles of data protection as set out in section 25 of the Act.
The exercise was launched on Monday, July 24, 2023 and the users were awarded with free tokens attracting very many Kenyans who queued in big numbers waiting to be scanned.
On Wednesday, August 2, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki announced the suspension of the Worldcoin exercise in the country ‘until security concerns are addressed’.
Prof Kindiki said the public safety and the integrity of financial transactions involving such a big number of citizens must be satisfactorily assured.
Upon registration, a new member was awarded a token that was similar to Ksh7000 but in terms of coins deposited in the Worldcoin wallet.
Meanwhile, the government and UNDP has signed an MOU to support the development and rollout of Digital Identity in the country in a partnership to be anchored on resource mobilization, technical advisory and project monitoring.
Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok who on behalf of the Government of Kenya signed the partnership with the UNDP Resident Representative Anthony Ngororano on Monday said the partnership will be key in the implementation of the proposed Maisha Namba which will be the official name for the unique personal identifier (UPI) which will be integral to the Digital ID.
He said the official unveiling of both Maisha Namba and Digital ID is set for Oct 2, 2023.
