The Worldcoin Foundation has voiced its disappointment regarding the recent ban imposed by regulatory authorities in Hong Kong, emphasizing its dedication to operating within the bounds of the law and ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations.
A representative of the Worldcoin Foundation expressed dismay at the decision by Hong Kong’s regulatory authorities to ban their operations. They affirmed the organization’s commitment to operating lawfully and adhering to all relevant data privacy laws, including Hong Kong’s personal data (privacy) ordinance.
Speaking to crypto.news, a spokesperson for the Worldcoin Foundation reiterated that the company operates in accordance with the law and is fully compliant with regulations governing data collection and usage.
“This includes the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance of Hong Kong, among many other similar statutes across other markets.”
Spokesperson for the Worldcoin Foundation
Worldcoin underlined its mission to ready humanity for the era of artificial intelligence by setting higher standards for privacy. Their strategies include data minimization, user empowerment regarding data, and the adoption of advanced technologies such as personal custody, iris code deletion, and secure multi-party computation. The foundation contends that these measures guarantee user data is managed with utmost security and privacy.
“Unfortunately, the authorities in Hong Kong overlooked these aspects in their evaluation of the humanness verification process.”
Spokesperson for the Worldcoin Foundation
Worldcoin’s response to the Hong Kong ban comes after the local privacy regulator announced that Worldcoin had violated regional privacy laws. According to Ada Chung Lai-ling, the Privacy Commissioner, the San Francisco-based startup poses privacy risks due to its handling of biometric data. The collection of face and iris images by the Worldcoin project was deemed “unnecessary and excessive,” thus violating local regulations.
As reported by crypto.news, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) discovered that Worldcoin also neglected to inform participants about their rights regarding data access and correction, further breaching privacy laws. Consequently, the Privacy Commissioner issued an enforcement notice instructing Worldcoin to “cease all activities related to the Worldcoin project in Hong Kong, particularly the scanning and collection of iris and face images from the public using iris scanning devices.”
Established in 2019 by Sam Altman, Max Novendstern, and Alex Blania, Worldcoin is a cryptocurrency project focused on developing a global digital identity platform through iris-scanning technology. In May 2023, the project raised $115 million in a Series C funding round led by Blockchain Capital, with contributions from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Bain Capital Crypto, and Distributed Global.
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