-The Kenyan government has suspended Worldcoin activities in the country.
-Applicants are required to scan their eyes to receive a free token worth 25 WLD, or around KSh 7,000, from Worldcoin, a type of cryptocurrency.
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has suspended Worldcoin activities in the country pending investigations to ascertain the authenticity of the entity.
CS Kindiki announced that Worlcoin’s operations would be suspended pending verification by the appropriate authorities of its authenticity with regard to data protection.
According to Kindiki, the government is worried about the assurance of public safety and the integrity of financial transactions involving such a large number of citizens.
“Relevant security, financial services, and data protection agencies have commenced inquiries and investigations to establish the authenticity and legality of the aforesaid activities, the safety and protection of the data being harvested, and how the harvesters intend to use the data.
“The government has suspended the activities of Worldcoin and any other entity that may be similarly engaging the people of Kenya until relevant public agencies certify the absence of any risks to the general public whatsoever,” said Kindinki in a press statement.
Thousands of Kenyans have flocked to malls and the KICC in Nairobi to get their eyes scanned in exchange for a free token worth slightly over KSh 7,000 (25 WLD coins).
Owalo endorses Worldcoin
This comes hours after Eliud Owlao, CS, ICT, and Digital Economy, defended Worldcoin’s operations in the country.
Worldcoin is a cryptocurrency project by the world-renowned Artificial Intelligence company Open AI.
On Wednesday, August 2, Owalo stated that the business is legitimately operating in Kenya during an interview with NTV.
Worldcoin registration at KICC stopped due to security concerns. Thousands turned away pic.twitter.com/eV62Ia4jqC
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) August 1, 2023
He added that OpenAI requested permission in April, before the start of the Worldcoin registration process, and that the government is aware of its operations.
“This is something that started way back in April. We have a fully-fledged Data Commissioner’s Office charged with the regulation of data security and privacy. In April, the office of the Data Commissioner got wind of Worldcoin and wrote them a letter to clarify what they wanted to do,” said the CS.
According to a statement released by American artificial intelligence (AI) company OpenAI on Tuesday, more than 350,000 Kenyans have registered for Worldcoin.
Thousands of Kenyans have flocked to shopping malls and other locations where registration is being held for Worldcoin, which was launched last week on Monday.
In order to register for Worldcoin, one must scan their eyeballs through an orb in exchange for a World ID, a digital identity.
According to Wangeci Mwangi, a consultant with Worldcoin, as of Tuesday, 350,000 Kenyans had had their eyes scanned in the crypto uptake.
READ ALSO: Cryptocurrency: The Digital Currency And How It Works
After having their eyes scanned, new members are given 25 complimentary WLD cryptocurrency tokens. Currently, the tokens are worth KSh. 7,786.
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