Ad hoc committee formed to probe the virtual tech company says Worldcoin breached the rules and laws governing the operations of a foreign company in Kenya and mined data illegally from unsuspecting citizens.
The Parliamentary committee set up to investigate the activities of the controversial cryptocurrency company, Worldcoin, has called for the closure of the firm and all its activities in the country.
The National Assembly’s ad hoc Committee, in its report tabled before the House, called on MPs to vote for a shutdown of the data mining company, effective immediately.
In its recommendations, the committee argued that Worldcoin had not only breached rules and laws governing the operations of a foreign company in Kenya but had also mined data illegally from unsuspecting Kenyans.
Equally, the committee, led by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, also asked the state to develop policies governing virtual assets and service providers in Kenya.
The process, the team said, should be carried out within six months once the House adopts the report.
Other recommendations by the committee also included calls for investigations into some of the subsidiary companies of Worldcoin, including Tools for Humanity Corp.
Besides calls by the team to also have Worldcoin’s virtual systems disabled after it was discovered that the company was still collecting data from Kenyans despite a suspension of the process.
“The registration of Kenyans by Worldcoin online App is still going on despite the pendency of a court order and other administrative directions halting the same in entirety,” the committee said.
The ad hoc committee, which was formed by Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula, had been set up to investigate the activities of Worldcoin following a public uproar over data collection from Kenyans.
According to some of the testimonies tabled before the ad hoc committee, the company is also said to have collected data from minors. The data was collected through an iris scan.
Worldcoin is also said to have collected some of the data it took from Kenyans illegally, according to some of the evidence presented before the team by Data Commissioner Immaculate Kassait.
The ad hoc committee comprised 15 members from the departmental committees on administration and internal security, communication, information, innovation, tourism, and wildlife.
The departmental committee on administration and internal security had nominated Lari MP Mburu Kahangara, Caroline Ng’elechei (Elgeyo-Marakwet), Peter Kaluma (Homabay Town), and Laikipia North MP Sara Korere.
The departmental committee on communication, information, and innovation nominated its chairperson, John Kiarie (Dagoretti South), Geoffrey Wandeto (Tetu), Gideon Kimaiyo (Keiyo South), Shakeel Shabbir (Kisumu East), and nominated MP Irene Mayaka.
Those representing the departmental committee on tourism and wildlife nominated are chairperson Kareke Mbiuki (Maara), Geoffrey Ruku (Mbeere North), Edwin Gichuki (Mathioya), Ruweida Obo (Lamu East), and Likuyani MP Innocent Maino Mugabe.
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