German regulators order WorldCoin to delete biometric data from human eyeballs

ChainCatcher news, according to TheBlock, the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision in Germany has ordered Worldcoin's human verification project to delete biometric data collected through eye scans. Worldcoin stated that it has changed its processes, and the findings of the German regulators "largely" pertain to "outdated operations and technologies that have been replaced in 2024."

The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision concluded an investigation that began in April 2023, stating in a release on Wednesday: "Worldcoin is obligated to provide a deletion procedure compliant with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) within one month after the decision takes effect, and to delete certain previously collected data records without sufficient legal basis."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that measures have been taken in recent months to alleviate regulators' concerns, including transitioning to a system where Worldcoin no longer stores biometric data. To comply with GDPR requirements, the iris codes used to verify individual World IDs will no longer be stored, and previously collected iris codes will be voluntarily deleted, ensuring that no personal data used to operate World IDs is retained.