Eyeball-scanning cryptocurrency startup WorldCoin is gearing up for the resumption of operations in Kenya after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) closed its investigation into the company.
Local media reported on Thursday that the ODPP had instructed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to drop the probe into allegations of illegal data collection and transfer by the firm, as no criminal charges were substantiated against the firm.
In a letter dated June 14 addressed to Coulson Harney the firm’s legal representative, the DCI said that the chief prosecutor had directed the closure of the investigation file without further police action.
“The DCI expeditiously and objectively investigated an array of allegations into the activities of the Worldcoin in Kenya in 2022-2023, touching on alleged unlawful collection and transfer of personal sensitive data,” the letter read.
“The resultant investigation file has been forwarded to the ODPP for independent review and advice. Upon review of the file, the DPP concurred and directed that the file be closed with no further police action.”
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The development comes barely three months after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki disclosed to the National Assembly’s Committee on Public Petitions the pressure from the US government to lift the suspension.
“The US has been pushing the government on the issues of Worldcoin, but we have remained adamant and firm,” Prof Kindiki told the committee.
Worldcoin, fronted by Tools for Humanity, a company co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, began operations in Kenya in July last year.
However, its operations were suspended on August 2, 2023, a day after thousands of Kenyans queued at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) to have their irises scanned in return for 25 free cryptocurrency tokens valued at Sh8,256.
Worldcoin aims to provide its users with a verified digital identity, plus a cryptocurrency token—helpfully named Worldcoin (WLD)—and a crypto wallet app.
It verifies a user’s identity by scanning their iris to create personal, secure identification codes. The codes are saved on a decentralized blockchain, and the company claims they cannot be duplicated or spoofed to create false identities or engage in fraud.
The company expressed gratitude for the thorough investigation by the DCI.
“We are grateful for the DCI’s fair investigation and for the Director of Public Prosecutions’ determination to close the matter,” Thomas Scott, Chief Legal Officer at Tools for Humanity, said.
– By Wanjiku Hilda
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