Kenyan authorities have officially closed their investigation into Worldcoin, allowing the cryptocurrency project to resume its operations. The probe was initially launched over concerns that Worldcoin had illegally collected and transferred users’ personal data.
Worldcoin faced suspension in August last year due to privacy concerns surrounding its method of scanning users’ irises to provide a digital ID, which was intended to form the basis of a new “identity and financial network.”
The cryptocurrency project is spearheaded by Tools for Humanity, a company co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. According to its website, Worldcoin has already attracted 5.7 million users across more than 160 countries.
The decision to drop the investigation was communicated in a letter from Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to Coulson Harney, the law firm representing Worldcoin. The letter, dated June 14, stated, “Upon review of the file, the Director of Public Prosecutions … directed that the file be closed with no further police action.”
WorldCoin’s iris-scanning device is seen at a sign-up site in Shoreditch, East London, Britain July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Howcroft
Reuters reported that it obtained a copy of this letter on Thursday.
Thomas Scott, Chief Legal Officer at Tools for Humanity, expressed gratitude for the decision.
“We are grateful for the DCI’s fair investigation and for the Director of Public Prosecutions’ determination to close the matter,” Scott said in a statement. He also confirmed that Worldcoin would soon resume user registrations across Kenya.
This development marks a significant step forward for Worldcoin, as it continues to expand its innovative approach to digital identity and financial inclusion on a global scale. Investors and stakeholders will be watching closely as the project moves ahead, aiming to balance cutting-edge technology with robust privacy safeguards.
