German Regulator Orders World to Erase Biometric Data by January 2025
World (WLD), the human-verification project formerly known as Worldcoin, is currently facing scrutiny from German authorities. The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision has ordered World to erase all biometric data collected through eyeball scans used for user verification.
World Appeals and Defends Practices
In an official statement, BayLDA required World to document its data deletion procedures and comply with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provisions within one month from December 19, 2024. The regulator also instructed World to delete data records obtained without proper legal authority and to ensure clear consent for future processing steps.
The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision oversees GDPR compliance in the private sector. This update follows a detailed investigation that began in April 2023. After BayLDA's ruling, World, co-founded by Sam Altman, promptly appealed the decision.
This incident marks another regulatory challenge for World in the EU; in June 2024, the company suspended operations in Spain pending the results of BayLDA’s inquiry.
Shifting Focus Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
Since its launch in 2023, the Proof-of-Humanity platform has encountered regulatory challenges over the collection and storage of biometric data. Despite assurances from Altman, concerns persist from government agencies. The company transitioned to a system that no longer retains biometric data, yet regulatory hurdles continue.
In a blog post following BayLDA’s decision, World suggested that the appeal was necessary due to outdated operational technologies. The company claims it has surpassed GDPR requirements by implementing enhanced data protection measures, including ceasing the storage of iris codes and purging previously collected biometric data.
World continues to face challenges in several European countries, including Portugal and France, where there are concerns regarding the collection of children's biometric data. Nevertheless, in October, World opted to focus on Asian and Latin American markets such as Malaysia, Japan, and Argentina, viewing these regions as offering greater expansion opportunities than Europe. Significant milestones have been recorded in these areas.