On 2 April 2024, the Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante) announced that on 21 March 2024, it issued a warning to Worldcoin Foundation regarding its intention to collect biometric data (via iris scanning) for digital identification, claiming that such data processing would violate the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).

Worldcoin Foundation supports the Worldcoin project, launched in 2019 by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI LLC (OpenAI). The project is based on iris scanning to verify the identity of users and on linking such processing to the “financial instrument” market, specifically the cryptocurrency called WLD. The iris is scanned by a biometric device named Orb, which scans the face and iris of users to create a unique identification code (the so-called “World ID”) worldwide for each user. The Orb is not yet available in many countries (and is not offered in the EU).Continue Reading The Italian DPA Has Its Eyes on Biometric IDs – Another Fight on Tech or a Win for Privacy?