Worldcoin, the controversial eyeball scanning business, has been unable to obtain an injunction against the temporary suspension that Spain’s data protection authority, the AEPD, imposed on Wednesday.
The authorities made the local order, which is valid for a maximum of three months, using emergency powers granted by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union.
It stated that it was taking preventative action against Tools for Humanity, the Worldcoin operator, due to the sensitive nature of the biometric data being gathered, which may put people’s rights and liberties at serious risk. Citing complaints received, it also brought up specific concerns about hazards to kids.
The “safeguarding of public interest” must come first, which denied to give an injunction against the AEPD’s directive today, according to a Madrid-based High Court.
Last week, the crypto blockchain biometrics digital identity startup pulled out of the scanning market, soon after the AEPD order, which gave it 72 hours to comply. Worldcoin’s services are still suspended in Spain as a result of today’s court ruling, maybe for three months.
In its appeal of the AEPD’s ruling, Tools for Humanity contended that the Spanish authorities had overreached themselves by using the GDPR’s Article 66 “urgency procedure,” particularly in light of the Bavarian Data Protection Authority’s continuing investigation as its lead DPA for complaints originating from other countries.
They also emphasized the fact that German authorities had not interfered with their operations in any way.
The court affirmed AEPD’s decision to suspend Worldcoin, stressing the hazards that processing biometric data poses to people—including children. Doubts over the legality of consent, inadequate information sharing, and possible rights violations of data subjects were among the concerns.
The court rejected Worldcoin’s appeal, which claimed that the temporary, Spain-specific suspension would cause “irreversible harm” to the company’s global operations. The court also highlighted the company’s right to compensation should it win in court.
The suspension was reinforced by complaints the AEPD received regarding the collection of data from minors, a lack of information, and inefficient deletion procedures.
Also Read: South Korea Probes Worldcoin Amid Growing Privacy Concerns
