Image by Worldcoin
In Summary:
- The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has ordered the closure of the Worldcoin investigation in Kenya.
- The closure paves the way for Worldcoin to potentially resume operations in Kenya.
The investigation into Worldcoin, the cryptocurrency initiative by Tools for Humanity, has been concluded by Kenyan authorities.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) directed the closure of the case after reviewing the findings of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The company’s legal team had sought an update from the DCI on May 21, 2024, regarding the status of the investigation.
In a letter dated June 14, 2024, signed by Hilary Kimutai, it was confirmed that the DCI had thoroughly investigated various allegations concerning Worldcoin’s activities in Kenya during 2022 and 2023.
These allegations included the unlawful collection and transfer of sensitive personal data.
The DCI’s investigation file was submitted to the ODPP for an independent review. After assessing the file, the ODPP concurred with the DCI’s findings and instructed that the file be closed with no further action required from the police.
The DCI advised Worldcoin to ensure proper business registration, obtain appropriate licensing from the Data Protection Commission (ODPC) and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), and conduct thorough vetting and legal contracting of all third-party vendors in Kenya.
Worldcoin’s operations in Kenya were suspended in August 2023 due to the absence of necessary permits. Thomas Scott, the company’s operations director, expressed gratitude for the recent developments, acknowledging the DCI’s impartial investigation and the ODPP’s decision.
“We are grateful for the DCI’s fair investigation and for the Director of Public Prosecutions’ determination to close the matter. This welcome result is, however, not an end but a beginning,” Scott said. “We will continue working with the Government of Kenya and hope to resume World ID registration across the country soon.”
Amid these developments, discussions are reportedly ongoing between Worldcoin and Kenyan government officials about resuming operations.
Launched globally on June 24, 2023, Worldcoin faced scrutiny over privacy and data security issues, particularly concerning the collection of biometric data through eye scans for World ID verification.
New users received 25 free cryptocurrency tokens, valued at Sh8,256, raising further concerns.
Nearly 5 million people globally possess a World ID, with 2.6 million verified users.