Kenya halts Worldcoin iris scans over data security concern

NAIROBI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) 

Kenya on Wednesday stopped the activities of Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency firm, which was collecting citizens' iris data in Nairobi, the capital.

Cabinet Secretary of Interior and National Coordination Kithure Kindiki said that relevant security, financial services and data protection agencies have started investigations to establish the authenticity and legality of the firm, the safety and protection of the data being harvested, and how the harvesters intend to use the data.

"The government has suspended forthwith activities of Worldcoin and any other entity that may be similarly engaging the people of Kenya until relevant public agencies certify the absence of any risks to the general public whatsoever," Kindiki said in a statement.

It would be critical that assurances of public safety and the integrity of the financial transactions involving a huge number of citizens be satisfactorily provided upfront, he said.

Over the past week, Worldcoin was scanning Kenyans' eyeballs and registering their iris data, offering each 7,705 shillings (about 54 U.S. dollars) in cryptocurrency tokens. Thousands of Kenyans turn up for the exercise.

Worldcoin said its intention is to become the world's largest human identity and financial network to enable everyone to benefit from artificial intelligence.