According to Cabinet Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, Worldcoin, the new cryptocurrency project by American Artificial Intelligence (AI) company OpenAI, is legal in Kenya.
Thousands of Kenyans have flocked to Nairobi retail malls and other locations where registration for the cryptocurrency initiative began last week.
The business reported that over 350,000 Kenyans had registered for Worldcoin, which involves scanning one's eyes via an orb in exchange for a digital identity known as World ID.
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While the process has sparked data security worries, the ICT minister stated on Wednesday that the government is aware of OpenAI's operations in the country and that the business sought permission months before the Worldcoin registration process began last week.
Owalo told NTV that This started in April, and the full-fledged Data Commissioner's office is responsible for data security and privacy legislation.
Worldcoin, he claims, is not violating the Data Protection Act by scanning people's irises for free cryptocurrency tokens known as WLD.
He added that According to information available to the Data Commissioner, there is no provision in the law that the organization has violated within the existing legal frameworks.
Owalo stated that the government, through the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), met with Wordcoin numerous times before they launched local operations to address the data security implications of their operations.
“Their argument is that they are getting the data voluntarily from Kenyans,” said Owalo.
“Today the Office of the Data Commissioner is going to give a comprehensive position. Our laws and policies and regulations are not static, and with time, you realise they need to be strengthened.” he said
New members receive 25 free WLDs after having their eyes scanned. The tokens are currently worth Ksh.7,786 each.
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