Finance

Spanish watchdog tells Worldcoin to delete all iris scan data

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on December 19, 2024

1 min read

· Last updated: January 27, 2026

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MADRID (Reuters) -Spanish data protection watchdog AEPD on Thursday ordered that Sam Altman's company Worldcoin delete all iris scanning data it had collected in the country in the latest blow to a

Spanish Watchdog Orders Deletion of Worldcoin Iris Data

MADRID (Reuters) -Spanish data protection watchdog AEPD on Thursday ordered that Sam Altman's company Worldcoin delete all iris scanning data it had collected in the country in the latest blow to a project that has sparked privacy concerns in several countries.

AEPD said its order followed a decision by its Bavarian counterparts BayLDA, with whom the agency has cooperated on the case, that had found the venture in breach of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation.

Spain's High Court in March upheld a temporary ban on the iris-scanning venture, dismissing an appeal by Worldcoin owners.

Co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in 2019, Worldcoin aims to create a global identity system by getting people to have their irises scanned in exchange for free cryptocurrency and a digital ID.

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo, editing by Andrei Khalip)

Key Takeaways

  • Spanish watchdog AEPD orders Worldcoin to delete iris data.
  • The order follows a decision by Bavarian authorities.
  • Worldcoin is accused of breaching GDPR regulations.
  • Spain's High Court upheld a temporary ban in March.
  • Worldcoin aims to create a global identity system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main topic?
The main topic is the order by Spanish watchdog AEPD for Worldcoin to delete all iris scan data due to GDPR breaches.
Why was Worldcoin ordered to delete data?
Worldcoin was ordered to delete data because it was found in breach of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation.
What is Worldcoin's goal?
Worldcoin aims to create a global identity system by scanning irises in exchange for cryptocurrency and digital IDs.

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