National Data Protection Commission orders suspension of iris collection by Worldcoin

More than 300 thousand people have already provided their biometric data

The National Data Protection Commission ordered, this Tuesday, the suspension of iris collection by Worldcoin “within 24 hours”.

“The National Data Protection Commission (CNPD) decided yesterday to suspend, in the national territory, the collection of biometric data on the iris, eyes and face carried out by the Worldcoin Foundation, with a view to safeguarding the fundamental right to the protection of personal data, especially minors. The CNPD ordered the company responsible for processing the data to proceed, within 24 hours, to temporarily limit the collection of biometric data, for a period of 90 days, until the CNPD completes its investigation and issues a final decision “, reads the statement.

According to the note, the decision was taken “following dozens of reports received at the CNPD in the last month, reporting the collection of data from minors without the authorization of their parents or other legal representatives, as well as deficiencies in the information provided to holders, in the impossibility of deleting data or revoking consent, which made the need for action on the part of the CNPD imperative”.

The National Data Protection Commission also states that “the news coverage provided by the media also brought to the attention of the CNPD that more than 300 thousand people in Portugal had already provided their biometric data, an essential condition for receiving a certain amount in cryptocurrency, known as Worldcoin”.

The CNPD had already advised citizens to “consider” very carefully before providing this data.

“The National Data Protection Commission has received, in recent days, several complaints from citizens about the specific conditions under which biometric data is being collected by the Worldcoin Project, expressing in particular great concern about the collection of data from minors without the authorization of parents, in addition to fear about the way in which this biometric data may be used”, indicated the entity, in the same note.

Taking into account the “extensive news coverage” on the issue, “people have approached the CNPD, expressing doubts about the exercise of their rights and revealing that they had not been provided with sufficient information about the processing of their biometric data”.