NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenyan lawmakers are pressing government officials for verification that Worldcoin has deleted sensitive biometric data collected from citizens, following a decisive High Court ruling that found the company violated national data protection laws.
Parliamentary Showdown Over Digital Privacy
In a heated session of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation that quickly shifted from budget discussions to data protection concerns, MPs confronted officials from the Ministry of Information, Communications, and Digital Economy with pointed questions about enforcement of the court order.
“Where are we on this? Who deletes the data? Is it Worldcoin or the Communications Authority?” demanded Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo, his frustration evident as he sought clarity on the implementation process.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie pushed further, questioning the verification mechanisms: “How will you ensure the data is deleted? How will you verify that Worldcoin doesn’t utilize it later?”
Court Ruling Sets Digital Rights Precedent
The parliamentary inquiry follows a landmark May 5th judgment by Justice Roselyne Aburili, who ruled that Worldcoin had unlawfully collected Kenyans’ biometric data, including distinctive iris scans, without proper authorization.
The court ordered Worldcoin to permanently erase all collected biometric information within seven days and prohibited the company from further data collection unless it complies with Kenya’s regulatory framework.
“The court’s findings reveal significant violations of Kenya’s Data Protection Act,” explained a legal expert familiar with the case. “Worldcoin neither conducted the mandatory Data Protection Impact Assessment nor registered as a data processor before launching operations in Kenya.”
Questions Over Verification Process
Officials from the Data Protection Commission informed the committee that Worldcoin had submitted an affidavit claiming the controversial data had been deleted in 2023 – well before the court order. However, lawmakers appeared skeptical of these unverified claims.
“We have received their statement, but independent verification is still underway,” acknowledged a commission representative, who faced visible pressure from committee members demanding more concrete evidence.
Public Trust at Stake
The controversy highlights growing tensions between technological innovation and digital rights in Kenya, which has positioned itself as East Africa’s technology hub while simultaneously strengthening its data protection framework.
“This isn’t just about compliance with a court order,” noted a digital rights advocate observing the proceedings. “It’s about setting precedents for how multinational technology companies operate in African countries and respect citizens’ fundamental rights to privacy and data protection.”
As the verification process continues, MPs have warned that failure to properly address these concerns could significantly undermine public confidence in Kenya’s digital governance and regulatory frameworks.
