The Kenyan government has instructed Worldcoin to cease enrolling new users, citing apprehensions about data security.
Sam Altman, an American tech entrepreneur, has initiated Worldcoin, a crypto token program that grants free tokens to those willing to subject themselves to an eye scan.
This week, Kenya has seen thousands of people forming lines at enrollment stations to acquire the currency worth around $49 (£39).
Kenya urged its citizens to exercise caution when providing their data to private companies.
The Communications Authority of Kenya expressed concerns about
The Ministry of the Interior has instigated an investigation into Worldcoin and has requested the involvement of security services and data protection agencies to verify its legitimacy and compliance.
At one of the pop-up registration centers in Nairobi, hundreds of people were queuing up to register on Wednesday. However, due to the large number of people present being deemed a "security risk," many were unable to participate in the process.
Webster Musa informed the BBC that he had been present at the line for registration for close to three days now, as he is without employment and is out of money, thus prompting his presence.
"Yesterday I came here and waited until my phone died, so I had to come back today but alas I still missed the registration. Worldcoin appeals to me because of the money; I'm not too worried about data being taken, as long as I'm getting money." Dickson Muli added.
Worldcoin has stated that they are unable to reveal the number of individuals whose eyes have been scanned in Kenya.
It states that it is constructing a worldwide "identity and economic system".
The Worldcoin website states that they are constructing a global identity and financial network that functions as a public amenity, providing ownership to everybody and granting unfettered access to the international economy no matter one's nation or heritage.
Altman, the originator of Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT, expresses the aspiration that this endeavour will assist in verifying whether a person is a human or a machine. He also indicates the possibility of universal basic income for all, though it is uncertain at this time how such a goal would be achieved.
The firm maintains that no information is stored. In spite of this, experts on privacy are apprehensive that the sensitive details obtained from scanning someone's iris might be misused.
The ODPC of Kenya has requested that people be more aware when dealing with Worldcoin as abiding by the Data Protection Act 2019 necessitates the implementation of appropriate safety protocols.
The Kenyan Capital Markets Authority (CMA) expressed its concern with the continuing registration process and informed Kenyans that Worldcoin is not regulated in Kenya.
Under Kenyan law, individuals are allowed to not have their personal information requested or exposed unnecessarily.
According to Mercy Mutemi, a digital rights lawyer, there are alternative approaches which are less intrusive for Worldcoin to acquire the information they seek.
She stated that if the aim is to demonstrate people are human, they can simply come forward. There is no need to make use of the most intrusive approach to establish that people are human.
Worldcoin stated to the BBC that Kenya was identified as the initial African nation in which the platform would be launched owing to the vibrant tech market and the four million-plus Kenyans currently investing in crypto.
Worldcoin has been released in Indonesia, France, Japan, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Certain nations' data protection authorities have announced that they are conducting investigations related to Worldcoin.
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