Kenya Resumes Worldcoin Investigation After Temporary Suspension in Previous Year

Kenya Ends Worldcoin Investigation After Pause Last Year
Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has officially closed the investigation into Worldcoin, the controversial cryptocurrency project that was suspended in the country last year.
DCI director Hillary Mutai signed a letter on June 14 stating that the department had conducted a thorough investigation into various allegations regarding Worldcoin’s activities in Kenya, including claims of illegal collection and transfer of sensitive personal data.
The findings were then submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for an independent review and guidance, as mentioned in the letter.
“After reviewing the file, the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed and instructed that the case be closed with no further police action,” the letter stated.
Worldcoin Given Approval to Resume Operations in Kenya
Mutai also mentioned that Worldcoin is now allowed to restart its operations in the country, with certain conditions in place. The project must properly register its business with the Registrar of Business Registry in Kenya.
Additionally, Worldcoin must work with the Data Protection Commission to obtain the required licenses. Lastly, the project must ensure that all third-party vendors in the country are thoroughly vetted and have legal contracts in place.
“We appreciate the fair investigation conducted by the DCI and the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions to close the case,” said Thomas Scott, chief legal officer at Tools for Humanity, in a statement. “This positive outcome is just the beginning, not the end.”
Scott expressed hope that Worldcoin will soon be able to resume World ID registration across the country.
Kenyan Participation in Worldcoin Increased Before Program Suspension
Kenyan authorities halted Worldcoin’s operations in August 2023 due to concerns about its data collection practices. There were questions raised about the legality of the data obtained and how it was being utilized.
Prior to the suspension, Worldcoin’s iris scanning program had faced regulatory scrutiny in other regions before Kenya expressed its concerns.
Worldcoin offers a unique digital ID system called World ID, which uses iris scans to verify that users are human and not AI bots. Participants in the program receive the cryptocurrency WLD as a reward for enrolling.
Before the suspension, many Kenyan citizens eagerly signed up for Worldcoin’s program. The popularity of the Worldcoin ID verification service in Kenya was so high that queues extended for up to three days.
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