Kenya’s High Court Orders Worldcoin to Delete Biometric Data in Landmark Ruling

Kenya’s judiciary has delivered a decisive blow to Sam Altman’s Worldcoin project, mandating the immediate deletion of all biometric data collected within its borders. The High Court found the cryptocurrency initiative violated national data protection laws by gathering personal information without regulatory approval.

The ruling hinges on a critical legal interpretation: offering digital tokens in exchange for biometric scans constitutes invalid consent under Kenyan law. Authorities have given Worldcoin precisely seven business days to purge its databases of all unlawfully obtained iris scans and related identifiers.

This judgment sets a precedent for crypto projects operating in emerging markets, particularly those employing controversial user acquisition strategies. The court’s emphasis on procedural compliance suggests tightening regulatory scrutiny for blockchain ventures seeking to monetize personal data.