Worldcoin under investigation in Hong Kong over data privacy concerns

Worldcoin's Hong Kong offices were entered by the jurisdiction's privacy watchdog over suspicions it has broken the law while scanning people's irises in return for WLD +4.82% tokens.

Hong Kong's Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data said Worldcoin is suspected of mishandling the biometric data it has obtained. 

"The PCPD entered six premises of the Worldcoin project located at Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, Cyperport, Central and Causeway Bay to carry out investigations. It is concerned that the operation of Worldcoin in Hong Kong involves serious risks to personal data privacy," the PCPD said in a statement.

PCPD to commence investigation

The PCPD added that it believes the collection and processing of sensitive personal data by Worldcoin may be in contravention of the requirements of Hong Kong's Personal Data Privacy Ordinance.

The privacy watchdog then said it has now commenced an investigation against Worldcoin "with a view to protecting the personal data privacy of members of the public."

“Members of the public should carefully protect their sensitive personal data and avoid participating in any activities that collect sensitive personal data, such as iris scanning, arbitrarily," Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling said.

PCPD releases statement

The Worldcoin project is an identity-focused initiative that uses its Orb devices to scan people's irises in order to "verify their humanness." The project also gives out WLD tokens as an incentive for people to sign up to the protocol. WLD has decreased by over 10% in the past 24 hours and was changing hands for $2.36 at 7:40 a.m. ET, according to The Block data.

WLD/USD price chart. Image: The Block.