Kenya Drops Worldcoin Investigation After Last Year's Pause

Shalini Nagarajan

Last updated:

June 20, 2024 05:34 EDT | 1 min read

Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has closed a probe into Worldcoin, the controversial crypto project suspended in the country last year.

DCI director Hillary Mutai, signed a June 14 letter stating that the department conducted a thorough investigation into various allegations concerning Worldcoin’s operations in Kenya, including claims of illegal gathering and transfer of sensitive personal data.

The findings were then submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for independent review and guidance, according to the letter.

“Upon review of the file, the Director of Public Prosecutions concurred and directed that the file be closed with no further police action,” it added.

#Kenya has halted its investigation into #Worldcoin, clearing the firm of alleged wrongdoing and potentially allowing its operations to resume after a suspension in 2023.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations concluded the probe, recommending that Worldcoin comply with… pic.twitter.com/OY6stWdTcR

— TOBTC (@_TOBTC) June 20, 2024

Worldcoin Gets Green Light to Restart in Kenya

Mutai also indicated that Worldcoin can now resume operations in the country, provided it follows certain steps. It must properly register the business with the country’s Registrar of Business Registry.

Second, the project should coordinate with the Data Protection Commission to obtain necessary licenses. Finally, Worldcoin must ensure all its third-party vendors within the country are thoroughly vetted and legally contracted.

“We are grateful for the DCI’s fair investigation and for the Director of Public Prosecutions’ determination to close the matter,” Thomas Scott, chief legal officer, Tools for Humanity, said in a statement. “This welcome result is, however, not an end but a beginning.”

Scott said Worldcoin hopes to resume World ID registration across the country soon.

Kenyan Enrollment in Worldcoin Surged Before Program Suspension

Kenyan authorities suspended Worldcoin’s operations in August 2023 over concerns related to its data collection practices. They specifically questioned whether the data was legally obtained, along with how it was being used.

At the time, Worldcoin’s iris scanning program had already drawn regulatory scrutiny elsewhere before Kenya raised concerns.

Worldcoin offers a unique digital ID (World ID) that uses iris scans to verify users are human, not AI bots. Participating jurisdictions reward enrollment with its cryptocurrency, WLD.

Prior to the suspension, Kenya citizens eagerly enrolled in Worldcoin’s program. The Worldcoin’s ID verification service in Kenya became so popular that it led to queues stretching for three days.