Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) has initiated an investigation into Worldcoin, suspecting the cryptocurrency project of potential privacy law violations related to the scanning of individuals’ irises in exchange for WLD tokens.
The PCPD revealed that it had entered six premises associated with the Worldcoin project across various locations, including Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, Cyberport, Central, and Causeway Bay, to conduct thorough investigations. The privacy watchdog expressed concerns that Worldcoin’s operations in Hong Kong posed serious risks to the privacy of personal data, particularly in the handling of biometric information.
According to the PCPD’s statement, there are suspicions that Worldcoin may have mishandled the sensitive biometric data it collected, potentially violating the requirements set forth by Hong Kong’s Personal Data Privacy Ordinance. The watchdog has officially commenced an investigation with the primary goal of safeguarding the personal data privacy of the public.
Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Ada Chung Lai-ling, issued a caution to the public, advising individuals to exercise caution when participating in activities involving the collection of sensitive personal data, such as iris scanning.
In response to the unfolding events, the PCPD released a statement on Wednesday, urging citizens to carefully consider key factors before providing their biometric data. These factors include assessing the legitimacy of data collection, understanding the purpose and scope of the data collection, identifying the intended use of the data, and being aware of the recipients or organizations to whom the data may be disclosed or transferred. The PCPD also emphasized the importance of knowing the retention period for biometric data and inquiring about safety precautions implemented to protect such sensitive information.
The Worldcoin project, known for its identity-focused initiative utilizing Orb devices to scan irises for the purpose of “verifying humanness,” has also been incentivizing participants with WLD tokens to encourage protocol sign-ups. However, with the privacy probe underway, the project faces increased scrutiny over its data handling practices in Hong Kong.