Kenya’s High Court has delivered a seismic blow to Sam Altman’s Worldcoin project, ordering the immediate deletion of all biometric data collected from Kenyan citizens.

This unprecedented ruling, delivered on May 5, 2025, by Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili, mandates Worldcoin and its agents to erase all iris and facial scans within seven days, under the strict supervision of Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC).

The decision has sent shockwaves through the blockchain industry, igniting urgent debates about privacy, consent, and the ethics of incentivizing data collection with cryptocurrency.

Court Ruling: Privacy Violations and Unlawful Data Collection

The High Court found that Worldcoin collected data from its users without undertaking the Data Protection Impact Assessment, which was designed to be a safety net to safeguarding citizens' privacy.

Even more damning, the court ruled that consent obtained through financial inducements-offering cryptocurrency in exchange for sensitive biometric data-was invalid and illegal under Kenyan law.

The case was brought forward by the Katiba Institute, which argued that Worldcoin’s iris-scanning “Orb” devices, often seen drawing crowds outside shopping malls, posed significant privacy and security risks.

This isn't the first time the company has been under scrutiny by the Kenyan government; back in 2023, Kenya has already suspended Worldcoin operations and launched an investigation into the company for collecting public data unlawfully.

One Kenyan official even called the project "a gang of criminals who are coming to harvest data from young people."

Kenyan activists praised the crackdown on Worldcoin

Digital rights advocates are hailing the court’s decision as a major victory for personal data sovereignty and privacy rights.

Joshua Malidzo Nyawa, counsel for the Katiba Institute, described the ruling as “a win for the right to privacy in Kenya.”

He emphasized that the right to privacy is enshrined in the Kenyan constitution, and violations can occur when organizations fail to follow proper procedures, such as conducting a DPIA or obtaining genuine, uninfluenced consent.

The court’s order not only bans further biometric data collection by Worldcoin without strict compliance but also sets a powerful precedent for how global tech and crypto firms must operate in emerging markets.

It underscores the importance of upholding local laws and respecting user privacy, even as blockchain and Web3 projects push for rapid expansion.

Sam Altman's crypto project faces deep troubles worldwide

Following Kenya, Indonesia has also called for the suspension of Worldcoin's digital identifying platform-WorldID-citing legal violation.

The Indonesian Ministry of Communication claimed that the suspension was immediately dished out after one of the businesses operating under the Worldcoin's umbrella was discovered to be unregistered.

As a result, Indonesian authorities put a halt on Worldcoin’s certification and summoned the relevant parties for additional questioning.

Following its suspension of its services in Indonesia, Worldcoin’s developer Tools for Humanity shared a statement sharing its position and next steps.

Worldcoin, which has attracted over $1 billion in investments from major backers like Andreessen Horowitz, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and Coinbase Ventures, is now under increasing regulatory fire worldwide.

Despite its ambitious vision to create a universal Proof of Personhood and digital ID system, Worldcoin’s future in Kenya-and potentially other jurisdictions-remains highly uncertain.

As legal and ethical questions over biometric data, crypto incentives, and informed consent take center stage, the global crypto community will be watching closely to see whether Worldcoin can regain trust or if this ruling marks the beginning of a broader crackdown on privacy-invasive blockchain projects.