The U.K. Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the country's data watchdog, has announced that it would inquire into OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's crypto project Worldcoin. The move followed the official launch of Worldcoin's long-awaited WLD token. Worldcoin defines itself as a digital passport helping holders prove their identity online with credentials verified in person through iris-scanning devices dubbed the "Orb." - The Orbs serve as custom biometric imaging devices to securely and privately verify users' humanness and uniqueness.
- At the launch, the project already had two million users, who signed up and were verified through an Orb during the beta testing phase.
- Worldcoin plans to accelerate sign-ups by deploying the Orbs in over 35 cities across 20 countries worldwide, including the U.K.
- A spokesperson for the ICO said organizations must have a clear lawful basis to process personal data.
- In response, a Worldcoin spokesperson stated that they adhere to strict privacy guidelines, adding that the project fully complies with all the biometric data collection and transfer regulations, including Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Worldcoin co-founder Sam Altman is most famous for his CEO position in OpenAI, the AI research lab behind the popular AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT. - The ICO's move is expected to have wider implications for other regulators worldwide since Worldcoin has a controversial position in terms of data privacy.
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