- Worldcoin, the controversial crypto startup, has distributed 43 million worldcoins to users who signed up during the pre-launch period.
- However, the majority of the tokens distributed in the launch are being loaned to market makers, who are trading firms that buy and sell large amounts of tokens.
- These market makers will help promote trading of Worldcoin's new tokens and make money on the spread.
- The move to involve market makers in the token launch highlights Worldcoin's efforts to create liquidity and increase trading activity.
- This aspect of Worldcoin's token launch has been overlooked amidst the controversy surrounding the company's use of eyeball scanning technology.
Main topic: Kenya suspends Worldcoin enrollment and expresses concerns about its activities and data protection.
Key points:
1. Kenya was one of the first countries to launch sign-ups for Worldcoin.
2. The Ministry of the Interior has suspended Worldcoin enrollment, citing concerns about authenticity, legality, security, financial services, and data protection.
3. Kenya had numerous venues for Worldcoin enrollment, but now there is only one due to overwhelming turnout.
4. Relevant agencies are investigating the authenticity, legality, and data protection of Worldcoin's activities.
5. Worldcoin is co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and has raised over $500 million.
6. Worldcoin registers "verified humans" through eye scans and offers free crypto tokens in exchange.
7. The suspension order's impact on the circulation and trading of Worldcoin tokens in Kenya is unclear.
8. Worldcoin tokens have become part of the grey market in Kenya.
9. The authorities are now considering the privacy, security, and financial transaction implications of Worldcoin.
10. The suspension follows an assessment by the country's office of the Data Commissioner.
11. Concerns have been raised about Worldcoin's practices and exploitation of economically-disadvantaged people.
12. Worldcoin has enrolled over half a million people in the last seven days and nearly one million in the last month.
The main topic is the suspension of Worldcoin's iris-scanning activities in Kenya due to security, privacy, and data protection concerns. Key points include:
- Kenya's Ministry of the Interior and National Administration suspended Worldcoin's activities over concerns with security, financial services, and data protection.
- Worldcoin is working with relevant authorities to resume iris scans in Kenya and improve on-boarding processes and crowd control measures.
- Kenya is one of the first countries where Worldcoin launched sign-ups and is a significant market for the company.
- Worldcoin's proof of personhood verification services in Kenya have been in high demand, resulting in long lines and overwhelming turnout.
- Concerns have been raised about the security and legality of data collection, as well as the use of financial incentives to obtain biometric data.
- Kenya's data protection law requires companies to register as data controllers or processors and ensures lawful use, minimal information collection, and data safety.
- Worldcoin is registered as a data processor and has been exchanging information with the office of the Data Commissioner for over a year.
- The launch of Worldcoin has also triggered privacy scrutiny in Europe.
Main topic: Privacy concerns and regulatory actions against Sam Altman's crypto startup Worldcoin for collecting biometric data without proper consent in Kenya.
Key points:
1. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) ordered Worldcoin's parent company, Tools for Humanity, to stop collecting personal data, including iris scans and facial recognition, due to privacy intrusion and lack of consent.
2. Worldcoin continued collecting data despite the directive, leading to a spike in people queuing up for iris scans in exchange for "free money," which caught the attention of authorities.
3. The ODPC filed a petition in the High Court to preserve the collected data for investigations into security, privacy, and the legality of using financial incentives to obtain biometric data.
Hint on Elon Musk: There is no mention of Elon Musk in the given text.
An alleged whistleblower of crypto project Worldcoin has cut ties with the organization and is assisting authorities in multiple jurisdictions with investigations, citing concerns about the project's flawed execution and alleged exploitation of biometric data.
Governments around the world are investigating Worldcoin, a crypto project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, over concerns about its data collection methods and potential risks to public safety.
