Spain BLOCKS Worldcoin—Here’s Why

Spain has become the latest country to ban the Worldcoin project from its sovereign territory.

Citing privacy concerns and the ‘unprecedented’ collection of sensitive biometric data, Spain’s government has decided to issue a temporary ban on Worldcoin’s data harvesting operations for three months.

Spanish officials have given Worldcoin 72 hours to begin complying with their temporary order.

The government of Kenya has also been in staunch opposition to the project—citing the same concerns and even detaining some Worldcoin executives last year.

It remains to be seen if Worldcoin will be allowed to return to normal operations in the country after the temporary ban is up, or if the temporary ban will become more permanent. Here’s what is currently being reported:

🇪🇸 SPAIN BLOCKS SAM ALTMAN’S WORLDCOIN

Spain's AEPD halts Worldcoin's data collection amid privacy concerns, targeting its iris-scanning 'orbs'.

Worldcoin's goal is to "create a unique digital identity for global citizens."

Source: Disclose TV pic.twitter.com/YIzdhJwiQN

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 6, 2024

Spain bans @worldcoin eye scanner 👀

— MartyParty (@martypartymusic) March 6, 2024

Coin Telegraph presented this statement from Worldcoin in response to the temporary ban:

“World ID was created to give people access, privacy and protection online. It is the most privacy preserving and safest solution for asserting humanness in the age of AI, and we are always willing to engage with regulators, examine their feedback and answer their questions.”

Multiple mainstream news outlets also provided coverage for Spain’s ban of the Worldcoin project—a topic that has since become a hot button issue.

Spain banned Sam Altman’s Worldcoin from scanning people’s eyes in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens, citing concerns over the collection and processing of biometric data https://t.co/mfbjnPb7Od https://t.co/mfbjnPb7Od

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 6, 2024

Worldcoin, a project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, offers cryptocurrency to people who sign up for an iris scan.

But Spanish officials say they are worried about its processing of biometric data — and have suspended its activities in the country.https://t.co/BfJpEgbxWy

— DW News (@dwnews) March 6, 2024

According to News BTC:

In January, the data protection watchdog in Spain’s Basque Country, known as AVPD, warned about the eye-scanning technology used by Worldcoin in a mall in Bilbao.

The AVPD deemed it subject to biometric data protection rules and called for a risk assessment. As a result of Spain’s regulatory action, the native token of Worldcoin, WLD, has experienced a 7% decline within the past 24 hours.

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