They banned Worldcoin iris scanning in Spain: they say the system poses a ‘social risk’

world currencythe company that gives cryptocurrencies to people in exchange for permission to scan the iris of their eyes, has suffered a serious blow in Spain, after the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD), the body that regulates privacy of people, he ordered “immediately cease the collection of personal data in Spanish territory.” In Argentina they did it on the coast in the summer and in various locations on the outskirts.

The regulatory body also required Worldcoin to do so Block all data collected so far in that country.

Meanwhile, Worldcoin has announced that it will take legal action against the AEPD order to immediately stop iris scanning in Spain and to block any type of processing of the data collected so far.

The technology company Tools For Humanity (TFH), based in Erlangen (Germany) and working for the Worldcoin cryptocurrency project, has announced these legal actions against this decision, company sources confirmed to EFE, who reiterated their arguments in favor of legality. From project and activities of this company.

The Spanish Data Protection Agency has decided, for the first time in its thirty-year history, to adopt a measure with these characteristics temporarily suspend -for three months- the activity of this company in Spain, which was also banned from continuing to scan the irises of thousands of people (around 400,000 in Spain) and from collecting personal data in this way.

The Worldcoin controversy

The Worldcoin cryptocurrency project is promoted, among others, by Sam Altman, director of the ChatGPT artificial intelligence system developed by the American company OpenAI, and in recent months has scanned the irises of thousands of people in exchange for financial compensation -cryptocurrencies- that users can monetize.

Company officials explained that the project aims to issue a digital identity document that infallibly proves that the holder is a person and not a “chatbot”, a “bot” or a computing robot.

The AEPD began investigating the activity of this company when it received several complaints alleging, among other things, that users were not receiving sufficient information, due to the collection of data from minors, or because revocation was not permitted of the initial consent.

And the agency also warned that the processing of biometric data – such as that obtained from iris reading – is considered by the Spanish General Data Protection Regulation as special protection, since it carries high risks for individuals due to the sensitive nature of such information, reasons why it has adopted this precautionary measure in order to guarantee the immediate cessation of the activity of this company and prevent the possible transfer of personal data to third parties.

Company sources provided EFE with a note from the company, in which they reiterate that they “fully” comply with all laws and regulations governing collection and transfer of biometric data, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

They also reiterate that they have maintained a “constant and continuous” dialogue with the European protection authorities and with the Bavarian Office for Data Protection and Control (Germany), and that they felt “disappointed” by the decision of the body that guarantees adequate protection. data protection in Spain. “We are left with no choice but to file a lawsuit,” the same sources said.

Those responsible for the project insisted that it operates “legally” in all countries where it is available and under the control of data protection authorities in each location.

Sources at the Spanish Data Protection Agency insisted today that the precautionary measure imposed means that the company cannot process personal data that it has already collected.

In this sense they have clarified that, although the precautionary measure is in force, it is not necessary for citizens who have allowed this company to carry out iris scanning to exercise the right to cancel or revoke consent, since the company will not be able execute it as it is prohibited to carry out any processing of such data.

The company specified that the activities undertaken in several countries aim to create a “secure” identity protocol without authorizations, and that more than 4 million people around the world participated in this project, who in this way – they say – they will be able to demonstrate on the Internet that they are human and not robots and that they will preserve their privacy.

To reinforce this concept, they usually invite journalists to test the system and repeatedly explain that they do not store personal data and that the system cannot yet be hacked. Data protection agencies doubt this in several countries around the world.