## Worldcoin CEO Faces Accusations of Data Fraud from Kenyan Lawmakers
Kenyan lawmakers have raised concerns and accused Worldcoin CEO Alex Blania of data fraud in relation to the implementation of the crypto project in Kenya. The lawmakers have likened the project’s arrival to “a gang of criminals who are coming to harvest data from young people.”
Worldcoin is currently facing scrutiny from Kenyan authorities, resulting in CEO Alex Blania having to answer to lawmakers on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. The Kenyan government had previously suspended Worldcoin activities in the country on August 2, 2023.
Blania was summoned to appear before the Kenyan parliamentary ad hoc committee, a 17-member committee established by the government to investigate the operations of Worldcoin. The project had raised concerns when authorities discovered that it was not officially registered and yet over 350,000 Kenyans had signed up and scanned their eyeballs in exchange for free WLD tokens valued at 7000 Kenyan shillings.
In response to the allegations, Blania claimed that Worldcoin has been connected with the Kenyan Office of the Data Commissioner since April 2022 and is registered as a data controller, not a limited company. He also argued that the firm was not obligated to register under Kenyan laws and had instead collaborated with local partners who had that obligation.
Blania further defended the project, stating that Worldcoin’s mission is to solve a critical internet challenge by establishing proof-of-personhood. He emphasized that the project had complied with all of Kenya’s data and registration requirements.
Worldcoin’s chief legal officer, Thomas Scott, assured the Kenyan parliamentary ad hoc committee that the project was not mining data from Kenyans for malicious purposes. However, Kenya’s regulator has issued a one-year ban on the firm. Once the ban is lifted, Worldcoin will need to undergo a security audit, grant government access to the collected data, register with the Business Registration Services, and establish a local representative.
Additionally, Worldcoin’s use of iris-scanning orbs to capture and verify biometric data has raised concerns about potential health risks. Kenya’s Health Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, warned that Kenyans who participated in the iris scans for tokens may be exposed to health risks. She recommended seeking medical help if any abnormal conditions arise.
While Worldcoin aims to create a network of users who verify their humanness and proof of personhood, concerns surrounding data fraud and health risks have created challenges for the project. The founders of Worldcoin are Sam Altman and Alex Blania, who are also the founders of ChatGPT.
Source: [newsbtc.com](https://www.newsbtc.com/altcoin/kenya-investigation-worldcoin/) (hyperlink)
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