Thailand Bans Worldcoin, Orders Immediate Shutdown and Data Deletion for 1.2 Million Users

In a sweeping regulatory action, Thailand's Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) has mandated the complete shutdown of Worldcoin's operations in the country and the deletion of biometric data for over 1.2 million users. The order, issued due to violations of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), targets unauthorized iris scan collection, insufficient data transparency, and failure to obtain proper consent, with Pol Col Suraphong Plengkham, PDPC secretary-general, emphasizing the need to prevent data leakage and illegal use of sensitive information.

Worldcoin, rebranded as World Network in mid-October and backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, operated 102 Orb locations in Thailand—one of its largest Asian markets—where users received WLD tokens in exchange for iris scans. The PDPC found that this practice involved transferring data to third parties without authorization, posing risks to national security and privacy. Tools for Humanity (TFH), the project's developer, has paused human verification services but contends the orders are unfair, claiming transparent operations.

The ban follows raids in late October by Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), which led to arrests and allegations of unlicensed digital asset business. Violations could result in penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of 500,000 baht (approximately $15,318), with daily fines for non-compliance. Affected users, who earned monthly distributions of 52 WLD tokens valued at around $0.63 each, face estimated losses of one billion baht, prompting Opas Cherdpunt, CEO of M Vision Plc, to gather a petition against the data deletion.

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob stated that while Thailand supports advanced technology, all operations must adhere to data protection laws. This move aligns with global scrutiny, as countries like Spain, Kenya, Colombia, and Brazil have imposed similar bans over data privacy concerns, highlighting a broader trend of regulatory vigilance against biometric data collection in crypto projects.