Kenyan Court Orders Worldcoin to Delete Biometric Data Over Privacy Violations

Kenya’s High Court has delivered a landmark ruling against Sam Altman’s Worldcoin project, mandating the deletion of all biometric data collected from Kenyan citizens within seven days. The decision, handed down by Lady Justice Aburili Roselyne on May 5, marks a significant victory for privacy advocates in the digital identity space.

The court found Worldcoin’s data collection practices violated constitutional privacy protections. Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner will oversee the deletion process, ensuring compliance with the ruling. Joshua Malidzo Nyawa, representing petitioner Katiba Institute, hailed the judgment as "one of the most progressive decisions" safeguarding digital privacy rights.

This development underscores growing global scrutiny of cryptocurrency projects handling sensitive personal data. While Worldcoin isn’t directly tied to major digital assets, the case establishes important precedents for blockchain initiatives operating at the intersection of biometrics and decentralized identity solutions.