Interruption of activities in Portugal
Worldcoin, the company that has been at the center of controversy in Spain for its massive iris scanning of individuals in exchange for cryptocurrency rewards, is now facing similar problems in Portugal. The CNPD (National Data Protection Commission) of Portugal has made the decision to discontinue Worldcoin activities in the country, following in the footsteps of the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD).
Concerns about data protection rights
Like the AEPD in Spain, the CNPD in Portugal considers that mass iris scanning of individuals represents a threat to the data protection rights of Portuguese citizens. Additionally, Worldcoin has been found to have scanned the irises of several minors without the permission of their parents or guardians, further aggravating the situation.
Possible complaints and disputes
In Spain, Sam Altman, founder of OpenAI and linked to Worldcoin, has announced lawsuits against the AEPD and has filed legal actions before the Spanish Superior Court of Justice. However, so far, he has not commented on the situation in Portugal.
Worldcoin claims that its main goal is to create a database of human irises to build a fairer financial system. Although they assure that clients will maintain control of their data, the AEPD is not convinced of this. For this reason, an investigation has been launched in Spain that has led to the precautionary interruption of Worldcoin’s activities in the country. Now, with the decision of the CNPD in Portugal, the company faces more obstacles in its goal of using iris scans for altruistic purposes.
The debate on data protection and the use of biometric technology
Iris scanning is a form of biometric technology that raises privacy and data protection concerns. If a company accumulates iris scans from individuals and uses them for commercial purposes, such as designing personalized marketing campaigns, the question arises as to whether the privacy of the individuals involved is being respected. Although Worldcoin claims to comply with laws and regulations related to biometric data, data protection authorities in Spain and Portugal have doubts about this.
The future of Worldcoin in Spain and Portugal
The Worldcoin case in Spain and Portugal is far from resolved. The decisions made by the AEPD and the CNPD are precautionary and the courts are expected to decide the course of action to follow. Meanwhile, the company continues to face criticism and controversy regarding its use of biometric technology and the protection of citizen data.
Conclusions
The case of Worldcoin and its massive scanning of the irises of individuals has generated concern in Spain and Portugal. Both the AEPD and the CNPD consider that this practice endangers the data protection rights of citizens. Although Worldcoin claims to have altruistic purposes and seeks to create a fairer financial system, data protection authorities have concerns about privacy and the use of biometric technology. The future of Worldcoin in Spain and Portugal will be decided in court, meanwhile, the company continues to face criticism and controversy.
