The controversial co-founder of WorldCoin, Alex Bania, has spoken out about the Kenyan government’s decision to halt the company’s operations there.
Bania said in a statement on Thursday that the World ID is a digital identifying system that enables one to demonstrate their individuality and veracity while maintaining anonymity.
The method includes scanning the users’ irises using an apparatus called the Orb. He expressed regret for the suspension to Kenyans.
“Tools for Humanity (TFH) has paused World ID verifications in Kenya as we continue to work with local regulators to address their questions. We apologise to everyone in Kenya for the delay,” he said.
The state has suspended global coin activities and any other organisation that might similarly engage Kenyans, according to Interior CS Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday.
The company’s continued efforts to register residents by gathering information from their eyeballs and iris, he said, are causing alarm.
On Tuesday, the Worldcoin registration process at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre was suspended due to security issues.
Police closed the entry to the location, preventing hundreds of Kenyans from entering.
But according to CS Kindiki, inquiries and investigations have been launched by pertinent security, financial services, and protection organisations to determine the legitimacy and legality of the aforementioned acts.
“Also investigations of the safety and protection of the data being harvested, and how the harvesters intend to use the data is being looked at,” he said.
The CS stated that the integrity of financial transactions involving such a sizable number of persons must be satisfactorily provided upfront for the sake of public safety.
By Mpasho