Kenya's High Court has declared Worldcoin's biometric data collection and processing activities illegal under Kenya’s Data Protection Act. The ruling, delivered by Justice Roselyne Aburili, mandates that Worldcoin must delete all biometric data collected from Kenyans within one week under supervision of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC). Kenya’s National Assembly and Capital Markets Authority had earlier expressed concerns about Worldcoin’s operations.
This decision is seen as a significant moment for global data privacy in the crypto sector and may serve as a precedent influencing regulations in other countries. With Worldcoin’s parent company, Tools for Humanity, now facing legal prohibitions in Kenya, economists and crypto analysts predict possible negative impacts on Worldcoin’s market value. The ban heightens concerns regarding privacy, regulatory compliance, and investor confidence—issues that have previously caused volatility across cryptocurrency markets. Observers note that the ruling could prompt other jurisdictions to strengthen their oversight of crypto projects that process sensitive personal data.