NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya has officially dropped its investigation into Worldcoin, the cryptocurrency project by OpenAI’s U.S.-based AI company, clearing the path for its operations to resume.
This decision follows the suspension of the project last year over data security concerns amidst a surge in interest in Nairobi.
Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, faced a storm of controversy when it launched globally on June 24, 2023.
The project’s verification process involved scanning users’ eyeballs through an Orb to create a digital identity, known as World ID, in exchange for 25 free cryptocurrency tokens.
However, concerns about the security of the biodata collected quickly escalated, leading to the suspension of Worldcoin’s activities in Kenya on August 2, 2023.
Amid these concerns, Worldcoin representatives appeared before Kenya’s Parliament to address questions about data security.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) conducted an exhaustive probe into the project’s activities, scrutinizing allegations of unlawful data collection and transfer.
In a letter dated June 14, the DCI informed Coulson Harney LLP, Worldcoin’s legal representatives, that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had reviewed and closed the case file.
“Upon review of the file, the Director of Public Prosecutions concurred and directed that the file be closed with no further police action,” the letter stated.
Moving forward, the DCI advised Worldcoin to register with the Registrar of Business Registry and obtain licensing from the Office of the Data Protection Commission (ODPC) and the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK).
Additionally, they emphasized the need for rigorous vetting and legal contracting of all third-party vendors in the country.
