Argentina investigates data protection violations

The Argentine data protection authority AAIP has launched investigations against Worldcoin. The background is the mass data collection by eye scanners. It is to be checked whether the crypto project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman violates data protection laws. Authorities are also investigating in Germany, France and Kenya.

Worldcoin: Lax handling of data?

More and more people are having their irises scanned for the Worldcoin project. This also increases concerns about data misuse. Argentinian privacy advocates are now putting the project, which lures with an unconditional basic income, to the test. As reported by the AAIP, “Processes and practices related to the collection, storage and use of personal data are thoroughly analyzed”. Possible violations of data protection laws should be checked.

In and around Buenos Aires, numerous people have had their irises scanned in return for financial compensation in recent weeks. Under data protection laws, “data controllers are required to register their databases with the AAIP.” “Information about their processing policy, the purpose for which they need sensitive data and the duration of data storage” would also have to be given.

Strengthen rights for users

Citizens who pose for Worldcoin also have the right “when submitting personal information, to receive clear and accessible information about the transfer, use and purpose of data collection and processing,” the agency said. This applies “especially to sensitive data such as biometric data”. This also includes the right to be forgotten, i.e. to have personal data deleted again.

With a view to increasing threats from digitization, the AAIP calls for the legal framework for data protection to be strengthened. Argentina has “a regulation that has been in force for more than 20 years”. This must be updated “in order to be able to effectively meet the challenges of data protection arising from the latest technological changes”. A corresponding draft law was presented to the Chamber of Deputies last week.

Again and again trouble with Worldcoin

Worldcoin has been under surveillance since the beginning. The crypto project has been touring major cities for months, collecting masses of biometric data with the help of eye scanners. Over two million people have now registered. In return they receive a “World ID” and some Worldcoin tokens. An unconditional basic income is promised. Since the token launch at the end of July, the cryptocurrency price has fallen by almost 50 percent.

After the French data protection authority CNIL already investigations initiated, and Kenyan authorities have also taken action, BaFin also announced investigations. The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision has been examining possible violations of data protection regulations since November 2022.