French regulator steps up pressure on Worldcoin
French regulator steps up pressure on Worldcoin
The French Data Protection Agency (CNIL) has conducted inspections at Worldcoin's Paris office as the regulator continues to scrutinize the digital services company. Worldcoin was co-founded by ChatGPT founder Sam Altman.
In July, French regulator CNIL warned it was investigating Worldcoin, questioning the legality of its use of biometric data, Reuters reported.
"There have been inspections at Worldcoin's offices," a CNIL spokesman said Thursday, but a company representative declined to comment on the news or provide details.
The pressure from the data watchdog stems from the fact that Worldcoin requires users to provide iris scans to obtain a digital ID, which in some countries is offered in exchange for free cryptocurrency. The company's website promotes the idea, stating that 2.1 million people have already registered in two years, most of them during the project's testing period.
The Worldcoin Foundation, based in the Cayman Islands, told Reuters in an email, "The Worldcoin team welcomes any opportunity to answer questions about the project's goals and technology. Worldcoin has developed a system to protect the privacy of individuals with a robust privacy program, and is committed to complying with regulatory requirements."
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