The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has concluded its investigation into the cryptocurrency project Worldcoin, led by Tools for Humanity, and has cleared the way for its operations to resume in Kenya.
The announcement came in a letter to the company, following a request for an update by Worldcoin’s legal team on May 21, 2024.
In a letter dated June 14, 2024, and signed by Hilary Kimutai, the DCI stated that it had thoroughly and impartially investigated various allegations regarding Worldcoin’s activities in Kenya during 2022 and 2023.
These allegations included claims of unlawful collection and transfer of sensitive personal data.
“The resultant investigation file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for an independent review and advice. Upon review of the file, the Director of Public Prosecutions concurred and directed that the file be closed with no further police action,” the letter read.
The DCI advised Worldcoin to ensure proper business registration in collaboration with the Registrar of Business Registry and proper licensing and coordination by the Office of the Data Protection Commission (ODPC) and the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK).
Additionally, the police recommended intensive vetting and legal contracting of all third-party vendors within the country.
Worldcoin’s operations were suspended in Kenya in August 2023 due to claims of lacking proper documentation. Thomas Scott, the company’s operations director, expressed gratitude for the resolution.
“We are grateful for the DCI’s fair investigation and for the Director of Public Prosecutions’ determination to close the matter. This welcome result is, however, not an end but a beginning,” Scott said.
“We will continue working with the Government of Kenya and others and we hope to resume World ID registration across the country soon. For today, we are just pleased to return our focus to advancing Worldcoin’s mission: creating opportunities for people in Kenya and elsewhere to participate in the global economy.”
This resolution comes amid reports of ongoing discussions between the company and government officials for the resumption of business in Kenya.
The Worldcoin project, launched globally on June 24, 2023, faced privacy concerns and questions about the security of the biodata collected from Kenyans.
The verification process involved scanning individuals’ eyeballs through an Orb in exchange for a digital identity called World ID. Concerns were heightened as new members received 25 free cryptocurrency tokens known as WLD after verification, valued at Sh8,256 at the time.
