Cryptocurrency firm Worldcoin is not licensed to operate in Kenya, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has said.
He told Parliament on Thursday the firm was only registered as a data controller as one compliance obligation pursuant to the Data Protection Act, 2019 and the Data Protection Registration of Data Controllers and Data Processors Regulation, 2021.
"An application for a certificate of registration only signifies that the entity has complied with sections 18 and 19 of the Act and does not endorse an entity's compliance with the Data Protection Act or its subsidiary regulations, nor is it a valid license for organisations to operate in Kenya or authorize the operations of an entity," the CS said.
He said the certificate only signifies that the firm is known to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner that it processes personal data of persons located in Kenya.
"Further, it does not amount to certification of the processing activities of an entity or serve as an endorsement from this Office of an entity’s compliance with other provisions of the Act or any other laws," Kindiki said.
He was responding to questions raised by Manyatta MP John Mukunji including who licensed and authorised the biometric data collection by Worldcoin and if the correct procedure was followed.
The CS had been summoned to appear before the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations to respond to petitions.
Kindiki said Worldcoin was issued with the registration certificate on April 18, 2023, after it provided the requisite documentation pursuant to the Data Protection Registration Regulations.
He said the firm is under investigation where a multi-agency team comprising of security, financial services and data protection agencies are working to establish the legality of its activities and the safety and protection of data already collected.
Kindiki on Wednesday suspended the activities of Worldcoin in Kenya but an estimated 350,000 Kenyans are reported to have already signed up since the registration started on Monday.
The process involved scanning their irises for purposes of determining their unique identity as humans in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens worth approximately Sh7,000.
