Amid growing concerns over privacy issues, Spain has enforced a temporary prohibition on Worldcoin’s eyeball scans, a technology developed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s company, citing worries regarding the handling of users’ personal data.
Worldcoin’s objective is to provide individuals with a secure form of identification through the creation of a “World ID” using eyeball scans captured by a device known as “orbs.” This technology aims to prevent identity theft and duplication by utilizing iris images.
In exchange for undergoing the eyeball scan, participants receive Worldcoin cryptocurrency as compensation for their involvement in the program.
Spain’s Agency for Data Protection has instructed Worldcoin’s parent company, Tools for Humanity Corporation, to halt the collection of personal data and retain all previously acquired information for a duration of three months, following complaints ranging from the gathering of minors’ personal data to the inability of individuals to retract their consent for data sharing.
Despite the company’s assertion that the data collected is utilized solely for creating a secure form of identification, concerns have been raised by privacy experts regarding the potential misuse of this information, such as for personalized marketing purposes.
With more than 360,000 individuals in Spain having enrolled in the Worldcoin program, investigations into the company’s practices are underway not only in Spain but also in other countries like France, Germany, and Kenya.
In response to the ban imposed by Spain, Worldcoin’s data protection officer, Jannick Preiwisch, criticized the actions of the Spanish data protection authority, alleging that they are circumventing EU laws and spreading inaccurate information about the technology.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Newser
Whether writing about complex technical topics or breaking news stories, my writing is always clear, concise, and engaging. My dedication to my craft and passion for storytelling have earned me a reputation as a highly respected article writer.