- Kenya has formed a government committee to investigate Worldcoin’s activities, prompted by data storage concerns and a recent warehouse raid.
- The committee will feature members from various factions of the government
- Worldcoin’s operations have been halted by a court order, preserving data collected from April to August 2023 as legality is investigated.
Worldcoin is facing more trouble in Kenya after a local media reported that an ad-hoc government committee has been established to investigate its activities. The committee, composed of 15 members, will be chaired by MP Gabriel Tongoyo and will be comprised of individuals from various departmental committees, including Administration and Internal Security, Communication and Innovation, and Tourism and Wildlife. The news follows a raid on a Worldcoin warehouse earlier this month amid worries over its storage of personal data.
Committee Will Report Back in 42 Days
Worldcoin has proved to be extremely popular in Kenya, but authorities have taken something of a dim view to date. Police raided a Nairobi warehouse belonging to the project’s parent company, Tools for Humanity, two weeks ago, seizing paperwork and machines connected to Worldcoin, which has led to the formation of the group, which will report back to the National Assembly within 42 days.
The committee’s creation coincides with Kindiki Kithure and Eliud Owalo’s second parliamentary appearance regarding Worldcoin, with the pair now slated to address the committee. Kindiki previously stated that the state halted Worldcoin and similar entities engaging Kenyan citizens after concerns arose from Worldcoin’s data collection during registration at KICC, which was paused due to security concerns.
Other Agencies Have Looked into Worldcoin
Security and financial agencies have also probed the activities’ legality, with the court suspending Worldcoin operations due to a Data Commissioner case, preserving data collected from April to August 2023.
Initially filed in Milimani Constitutional Court, the case moved to the High Court’s Criminal Division for better handling of preservatory orders, with the State Agency arguing that without intervention, collected data could be altered, clearly a violation of user rights.
