Kenya

On 06/05/2025, the High Court of Nairobi, Kenya, ruled that Sam Altman's Worldcoin project must delete all biometric data collected in Kenya within 7 days under government supervision, increasing global pressure on the company. Is this the end of Worldcoin's ambitions? Let's analyze in detail.

Ruling in Kenya: Violation of Privacy Rights

The court ruled that #Worldcoin (formerly called Worldcoin), and their agents collected biometric data (iris scans) without valid consent from the Office of the Data Protection Commission (ODPC), using cryptocurrency (token $WLD ) as a 'club' to lure users, violating the principle of voluntary consent. Joshua Malidzo Nyawa, a lawyer from the Katiba Institute – the suing organization, called this a 'victory for privacy in Kenya.' He emphasized: 'Privacy is a constitutional right, violations can occur if procedures like data security impact assessments are not followed. Consent after being lured with money or crypto is illegal.' Worldcoin has not immediately responded to requests for comment.

The Kenyan High Court has deemed the operations of Sam Altman's Worldcoin Foundation unlawful, mandating the removal of biometric data gathered from Kenyan citizens within a week.

This decision, announced on May 5, 2025, follows Indonesia's suspension of the project due to regulatory infractions.
Kenya Court Orders Data Deletion Within Seven Days
Justice Aburili Roselyne issued three directives against Sam Altman's Worldcoin Foundation for breaching Kenya's Data Protection Act of 2019.

The Court mandated the foundation to erase all iris and facial biometric data gathered from Kenyan citizens.


The Data Protection Commissioner is responsible for supervising this process, which is required to be finalized within a week.

The Court determined that the data was acquired without a legitimate Data Protection Impact Assessment and concluded that the consent was invalid, as it was secured through financial incentives linked to Worldcoin's cryptocurrency.
“An order of Mandamus compelling the Worldcoin Foundation and its agents to permanently delete (under the supervision of the Data Protection Commissioner) within seven days any biometric data collected in Kenya.”
An additional directive forbade the foundation and its representatives from gathering, processing, or managing any biometric data within the nation.

A subsequent order revoked any previous authorizations permitting the company to collect or process such data.

Nevertheless, in spite of this restriction, Worldcoin has recently taken a positive step by launching $WLD ID in the United States, coinciding with Coinbase's intention to list the token.
Legal Challenge Led by Katiba Institute

The ruling of the Court comes in response to a legal challenge initiated by the Katiba Institute, a civil society organization based in Kenya.

This organization raised concerns regarding the legality of the data collection methods employed by Sam Altman's Worldcoin, which utilizes a digital application and biometric Orb devices.

They contended that the foundation did not adhere to the privacy protections stipulated in national legislation.

Following the ruling, the Katiba Institute stated,
“Today, Lady Justice Aburili Roselyne has allowed our Judicial Review Application, where we challenged the collection, processing, and transfer of iris and facial images using the Worldcoin App and the Orb against the Worldcoin Foundation.”
Worldcoin commenced its operations in Nairobi at the beginning of 2023, providing cryptocurrency valued at Ksh7,000 in return for biometric information.

However, the government suspended the registration process due to the significant influx of people at public locations, which raised alarms regarding security and privacy issues.
Worldcoin Also Faces Suspension in Indonesia

Just hours prior to the ruling in Kenya, Indonesia's Ministry of Communications and Digital (Komdigi) announced the suspension of Worldcoin's registration.

Officials pointed to suspicious activities and the engagement of unauthorized legal entities in digital services, despite intentions to incorporate Circle's USDC and CCTP V2.

Following the decisions made in both Kenya and Indonesia, the value of the Worldcoin token (WLD) experienced a decline of over 6% within a 24-hour period.

At the time of this report, the $WLD was trading at $0.8816 after reaching a peak of $0.9627 in the preceding 24 hours.

Furthermore, the open interest for WLD decreased by 5.15%, bringing it down to $219.42 million.

Komdigi indicated that the Worldcoin-affiliated company, PT Terang Bulan Abadi, was operating without a legitimate Electronic System Operator Certificate.

Additionally, it was discovered that another local partner, PT Sandina Abadi Nusantara, was reportedly involved in legal misrepresentation. According to Komdigi,
“Noncompliance with registration obligations and the use of the identity of another legal entity… is a serious violation.”
The ministry has announced that it will convene both local organizations for further clarification and has urged citizens to report any unregistered digital service providers.

Alexander Sabar, the director general for digital supervision, stated, 'We encourage the public to assist in ensuring a secure and reliable digital environment for all citizens.'

#Worldcoin #CryptoNewss #MarketSentimentToday #Market_Update #Kenya

Kenya, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Microsoft, has established the Africa Digital and AI Skills Competency Hub.
The centre aims to equip public sector workers with digital and AI skills to improve service delivery across Africa.
The hub aligns with Kenya’s National Digital Master Plan and focuses on themes such as human-centered problem solving and strategic visioning.

In a significant shift from its previous cautious stance, Kenya is advancing towards regulating cryptocurrencies. On January 10, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced the government's commitment to establishing a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies 📜.
🔍 The Draft Proposal: A New Era for Crypto in Kenya
The draft proposal, titled 'National Policy on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers,' aims to create a fair, competitive, and stable market for cryptocurrencies in Kenya 📈. It addresses potential risks such as money laundering, terrorism financing, and consumer protection issues 🚨. The proposal seeks to provide a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework governing virtual asset activities and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) 📊.
📈 A New Chapter for Crypto Adoption in Africa
Kenya's move towards regulation could lead to increased adoption and growth in the crypto market 🚀. The country ranks 21st globally on the Chainalysis Crypto Adoption Index, with stablecoin transactions accounting for nearly half of the total transaction volume in the region 📊. Between July 2023 and July 2024, Kenya received $3.3 billion worth of stablecoins, with Nigeria leading the region with $21.8 billion in stablecoin transaction volume 📈.
👥 Public Feedback and the Future of Crypto Regulation in Kenya
Public feedback on the draft proposal is open until January 24 📅. If approved, Kenya could join other African nations like South Africa and Nigeria, which have already implemented cryptocurrency regulations 🌍. This development marks a significant milestone in Kenya's journey towards embracing cryptocurrencies and providing a secure and regulated environment for crypto enthusiasts 🚀.
#USJobsSurge256K
#Kenya
#cryptouniverseofficial
$BTC

Kenya is set to introduce legislation that would permit the use of cryptocurrencies.

Kenyans Retain Interest in Crypto Despite Government Opposition
Kenya is preparing legislation that would allow the use of cryptocurrencies, a senior official in President William Ruto’s government has said. In a statement explaining the policy shift, Kenyan Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi suggested that embracing cryptocurrencies would enable the East African nation to retain its status as a leader in financial innovation on the continent.
According to a report in the Standard, this policy change marks a departure from the previous Kenyan government’s stance on crypto. As noted in a Bitcoin.com News report, the Kenyan government previously cited concerns about money laundering and terrorism financing as reasons for opposing cryptocurrencies. The association of cryptocurrencies with scams has further deepened the government’s mistrust.
However, many Kenyans have continued to embrace cryptocurrencies despite numerous threats and warnings against their use, as evidenced by several studies. Furthermore, the Kenyan Treasury collected $77 million from crypto traders, suggesting that the industry could become an important revenue source for the government.
These factors, along with others, have seemingly prompted a rethink by a government that has already embraced bitcoin mining.
“Kenya’s financial sector is a beacon of innovation and growth in Africa. The emergence and growth of Virtual Assets (VAs) and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) have given rise to innovations in the local and international financial system with dynamic opportunities and challenges,” Mbadi said.
Although he acknowledged the risks involved in embracing cryptocurrency, Mbadi argued these can be addressed by creating a framework that harnesses the benefits while mitigating the risks. The Kenyan Treasury Cabinet Secretary also revealed that the draft legislation on cryptocurrency use seeks not only to create a “fair, competitive, and stable market” for VAs and VASPs but also to enhance financial literacy.
#binance #wendy #kenya $BTC

In a recent analysis published by the Northern Forum – a non-profit organization under UNDP Climate Change Adaptation, Bitcoin mining in Kenya is being evaluated as a sustainable model that combines technology and environmental protection.

At #Kenya , a large amount of surplus geothermal energy is not being used efficiently. To take advantage of this resource, companies like Gridless have implemented a Bitcoin mining model using clean electricity that was previously wasted, helping to stabilize the power grid while creating additional economic value.