Colombia is the latest country to pursue Worldcoin

Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project that has been embroiled in several global controversies, is now under scrutiny by Colombian authorities. Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) has announced that it has opened a lawsuit against Tools For Humanity and the Worldcoin Foundation, the project’s founders. The lawsuit comes after allegations of possible violations of Colombian data protection laws.

Since the beginning of its operations in Bogotá, Medellín and Cúcuta, Worldcoin has raised significant concerns due to the identity verification method it uses: iris scanning through futuristic devices known as Orbs.

These devices, strategically distributed across the three cities, capture sensitive biometric data in exchange for a universal basic income, which ranges from $20 to $30 in tokens per month, depending on the cryptocurrency’s appreciation.

The SIC, acting as the main data protection authority in Colombia, has expressed serious concerns about Worldcoin’s compliance with local laws on the processing of personal data. According to the statement, the investigation aims to determine whether there has been a violation of the Colombian data protection regime, especially in the collection and processing of sensitive user information.

Colombia now joins a growing list of countries, including Argentina, Chile and Mexico in Latin America, and Spain, Portugal, Kenya and Hong Kong globally, that have already taken action against Worldcoin over privacy-related concerns. In the aforementioned countries, Worldcoin’s operations have been suspended or shut down due to similar concerns over the use of biometric data.

Worldcoin

If the SIC investigation confirms the allegations, Worldcoin could face severe sanctions in Colombia. Penalties include fines of up to $570,000, temporary suspension of activities for up to six months, or even the permanent closure of its operations in the country.

SIC highlighted the importance of protecting citizens’ fundamental rights and appealed to the population to be careful when sharing their personal data.

The case will now be officially notified, and the parties involved will have the opportunity to defend themselves. However, the SIC decision, once formalized, cannot be challenged, reflecting the seriousness with which the Colombian government is treating this case.

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