The Office of Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has urged caution as Kenyans rush to sign up for WorldCoin, a new crypto project that has captivated the world.
Data Commissioner Immaculate Kassait, in a statement released on Friday, has urged the public to take caution while signing up for Worldcoin.
The process involves scanning one’s eyes through an orb to obtain a digital ID and the promise of receiving free cryptocurrency.
On July 28, in a statement issued OPDC stated that Worldcoin’s activities in the East African nation are governed by the country’s 2019 Data Protection Act.
According to the data regulator, the Kenyan protection data law gives the ODPC the authority to conduct assessments or request information which helps it ascertain if Worldcoin is sticking to the law.
The ODPC added, “As the ODPC conducts its assessment of Worldcoin’s practices to ensure compliance with the law, Kenyans are urged to ensure they receive proper information before disclosing any personal or sensitive data. Individuals are advised to thoroughly inquire about how their data will be used.”
The warning comes amidst the rush by Kenyans to get scanned by a Worldcoin orb and registered on its network. Video footage outside a store in Kenya shows long queues of interested persons looking to register and receive the 25 Worldcoin tokens (WLD), which is the reward for signing up on the platform.
25 WLD is worth $56.99 (8095 Kenyan Shilling at the time of writing).
“I was here by 5 am because there has been a lot of talk on Tik Tok and Instagram about the free money Worldcoin is giving all those who download their app and subscribe, we are for the iris scanner so that we can be sorted,” Brian Mwangi, one of the WLD token recipients, said.
The Kenyan data regulator’s investigation comes after the French National Commission for Informatics and Liberty (CNIL) launched a similar inquiry into Worldcoin’s practices.
Also Read: Worldcoin Crypto is already under Investigation in France
