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Worldcoin, a project spearheaded by Sam Altman, is embroiled in a legal dispute with the Spanish data protection regulator, the Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD), after being banned from operating in Spain. The ban comes as Worldcoin seeks to establish a global identity system that involves scanning people’s irises in exchange for free cryptocurrency and a digital ID.
Worldcoin has vehemently contested the ban, accusing the AEPD of circumventing EU law and disseminating inaccurate and misleading information about its technology. The AEPD has yet to respond to these allegations.
In response to the ban, Worldcoin’s parent company, Tools for Humanity, has filed a lawsuit against the AEPD’s order. The lawsuit alleges that the AEPD bypassed accepted EU processes and rules, as well as established GDPR procedures, without providing specific details.
The legal battle is now playing out in the Administrative Chamber of Spain’s High Court, where Worldcoin is seeking to suspend the AEPD’s order. As a result of the ban, Worldcoin has paused its “World ID verification services” in Spain, which involve iris scans conducted by its “orb” devices.
Despite attracting more than 4 million sign-ups in 120 countries for iris scans, Worldcoin has faced criticism from privacy advocates worldwide for its data collection, storage, and usage practices. The AEPD’s action against Worldcoin followed complaints regarding insufficient information, data collection from minors, and the absence of consent withdrawal options.
The outcome of Worldcoin’s legal challenge against the AEPD could have broader implications for the future of iris scanning technology and data protection regulations in Spain and beyond.
