The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) – Kenya Chapter has welcomed a recent High Court decision that declared Worldcoin’s data collection activities in Kenya illegal. The court found that the cryptocurrency project’s methods of collecting biometric data—specifically iris scans—violated Kenyans’ rights to privacy.
In the ruling, Justice Nixon Sifuna noted that the data gathering process, carried out without adequate legal safeguards or consent frameworks, posed significant risks to individual privacy and personal security. The judge emphasized that allowing such practices would set a dangerous precedent, especially given the sensitive nature of biometric data.
ICJ Kenya praised the verdict as a landmark win for data protection and digital rights in the country. The organization had been vocal about the need to regulate how global tech firms handle personal data in Kenya, arguing that human dignity and privacy must remain non-negotiable.
Worldcoin had launched operations in Kenya promising free tokens in exchange for biometric scans, drawing widespread attention and controversy. Authorities suspended the program in 2023, pending investigations into its legality and ethical implications.
This ruling reinforces Kenya’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens in the digital age, and sets an important example for how emerging technologies must be held accountable within legal and ethical boundaries.
