Worldcoin says to continue global rollout despite Kenya suspension

Worldcoin, the cryptocurrency project by US generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) company OpenAI, announced Wednesday it will continue its user verification exercise globally in spite of suspension in Kenya over data security concerns.

Alex Blania, the project’s CEO who co-founded it with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, said while Worldcoin and Tools For Humanity (TFH) are pausing World ID verifications in Kenya to address the government’s concerns, its global rollout shall go on.

TFH is the Germany-based global hardware and software company which led the initial development of the Worldcoin protocol.

“TFH has paused World ID verifications in Kenya as we continue to work with local regulators to address their questions. We apologize to everyone in Kenya for the delay,” Blania said in a post on Twitter, which is rebranding to X.

“World ID is built for privacy. We look forward to resuming operations while continuing global rollout.”

The project launched last week has been rolling out in Kenya, Germany and France, among other countries.

It has seen a hysterical uptake locally; over 350,000 have scanned their eyeballs with the Worldcoin Orb to verify their online identity, called World ID.

There have, however, been privacy concerns and questions about the security of the biodata Worldcoin was collecting from Kenyans, heightened by the fact that new members were getting 25 free cryptocurrency tokens known as WLD after the process, which are currently valued at Ksh.8,256.

On Wednesday, the government stopped all activities associated with the crypto project over safety concerns, until relevant agencies certify the absence of any security risks.

"Relevant security, financial services and data protection agencies have commenced inquiries and investigations to establish the authenticity and legality of the aforesaid activities, the safety and protection of the data being harvested, and how the harvesters intend to use the data," Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said in a statement.

“Further, it will be critical that assurances of public safety and the integrity of the financial transactions involving such a large number of citizens be satisfactorily provided upfront.”