Worldcoin Founder and CEO, Alex Blania, responded to Ad Hoc Committee.
The controversial founders of Worldcoin suggested that the government should use a verification system based on iris identification for smart IDs.
This system would be similar to the one used for World ID.
CEO Alex Blania from Tools for Humanity recently spoke to a parliamentary Ad hoc committee and provided insights on various important matters regarding worldcoin operation in Kenya.
In the discussion, he highlighted the importance of including biometric data like iris, face, and fingerprints in the government Smart ID cards.
He clarified that this approach is different from the Orb-based verification utilized by World ID.
During his speech, Alex Blania emphasized that Kenya is an ideal place for Worldcoin operations due to its very much advanced technology and internet connectivity compared to other African countries.
Crucially, he assured that the data of Kenyan citizens is not being misused in any harmful way.
He highlighted that biometric data is commonly used in both public and private sectors for identification and verification purposes only.
Furthermore, Blania provided insights into the obstacles encountered during the development of Worldcoin.
He specifically mentioned the importance of “Proof of Personhood” as a key element in confirming the legitimacy of individuals in the digital world.
In his recent discussion, the CEO of Worldcoin Bania emphasized that biometrics are the most scalable and fraud-resistant method for identification, regardless of a person’s background or location. He also touched on the importance of respecting privacy.
However, he stated that their focus had shifted away from Worldcoin activities in Kenya due to a lack of proper permissions from the Business Registration Services (BRS).
The organization, Tools for Humanity, was not registered with the registrar of companies as they were not involved in commercial activities. This brought about potential confusion about their business definition.
Although they had submitted their application as a foreign entity without a local presence, the CEO stressed their commitment to adhering to Kenya’s data privacy laws.
In the hope of finding a positive resolution, he expressed his belief that he is confident the Committee would not find any wrongdoing.
The organization had been in contact with the Data Commissioner’s office for 18 months to obtain an operating license.
When asked about why Kenya was chosen for Worldcoin activities, the head of the legal team mentioned factors such as the country’s technological advancements, internet connectivity, widespread use of mobile money, and high smartphone ownership.
Data mining processes began in April 2022, and students at 21 locations in Nairobi were asked to provide consent by filling out forms.
The CEO emphasized that the beta operations had been smooth and assured that Worldcoin does not engage in any illicit use of Kenyan data, therefore quashing allegations of illegal data harvesting.
Data Privacy Concerns
In the committee’s session, it was revealed that Worldcoin had been conducting proof of humanness verification activities in Kenya starting from 2021.
The project had been operational in more than 20 locations within the capital city, but it gained global recognition when it was officially launched on July 24.
More Concerns were raised when it was discovered that over 300,000 Kenyans had participated in the project by scanning their eyeballs.
This was alarming since Worldcoin had not undergone official registration as a legal company in the country.
As a result, regulatory authorities began to pay attention to this situation.
The CEO addressed the accusations by clarifying that the initiative had been in communication with Kenya’s Office of the Data Commissioner since April 2022.
Instead of being registered as a limited business, the project is registered as a data controller.
The CEO stressed the long-term commitment of the Worldcoin project to Kenya and expressed genuine dedication to the people.
The organization is devoted to operating in an honest, compliant, and transparent manner.
All the personal and biometric data collected in Kenya is securely stored on servers located in the US, Italy, Germany, Poland, or South Africa.
Kenya As a Strategic Hub
Due to Kenya’s growing technology adoption and stable political and economic conditions, Worldcoin chose the country, along with Chile and Portugal, for its initial program.
The CEO reveals that a substantial proportion, specifically one-fourth, of all Worldcoin users globally are located in Kenya.
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