Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner Halts Worldcoin's Operations Due To Privacy Violations

According to PANews, the Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner's Office has concluded its investigation into the Worldcoin project. The investigation found that the project's operations in Hong Kong violated the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. The violations pertained to the collection, retention, transparency, access, and correction of personal data. The Privacy Commissioner, Zhong Liling, has ordered the Worldcoin project to cease collecting iris and facial images of Hong Kong citizens using iris scanning devices. The Privacy Commissioner's Office initiated the investigation into the Worldcoin project in January 2024 due to serious personal data privacy risks associated with its operations in Hong Kong. Between December 2023 and January 2024, the office conducted ten 'snake' operations at six Worldcoin operating points in Hong Kong. On January 31, 2024, the office executed a court order to investigate the Worldcoin project at its six operating points located in Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, Cyberport, Central, and Causeway Bay. The investigation revealed that individuals participating in the Worldcoin project had to allow the relevant institutions to collect their facial and iris images through iris scanning to 'verify' human identity and create iris codes. This process allowed them to obtain a registered identity (i.e., World ID) and periodically receive the virtual currency 'Worldcoin' for free. Worldcoin confirmed that during its operation in Hong Kong, it conducted facial and iris scanning authentication for a total of 8,302 individuals.