As a researcher with a background in data privacy and security, I find the situation with Worldcoin’s activities in Hong Kong concerning. The findings by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) indicate that the crypto project failed to comply with crucial data protection principles, putting individuals’ personal information at risk.
The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) of Hong Kong has issued a stop-operating order to Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency initiative led by OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman. This action finalizes the probe initiated by the PCPD in January 2024.
Hong Kong Halts Worldcoin Activities
In the opening months of the year, Hong Kong’s Data Protection Department (PCPD) disclosed their intention to probe into Worldcoin’s operations due to potential privacy concerns. Subsequently, six Worldcoin sites located in Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, Cyberport, Central, and Causeway Bay were subjected to investigation by the Privacy Commission.
Ada Chung Ling, the Privacy Commissioner at PCPD, determined that the crypto project failed to adhere to the Data Protection Principles (DPPs). Specifically, they violated the rules concerning how data is collected, kept, made transparent, and allowed to be accessed and corrected.
As a crypto investor, I would explain it this way: I participated in the Worldcoin project by having my irises scanned for identity verification. In return, I received the project’s native cryptocurrency, WLD.
The investigation found that participants were asked to provide iris and facial images to specific organizations under the pretext of iris scanning, which was deemed unnecessary and excessively intrusive according to the statement.
During the implementation of the project in Hong Kong, it was verified that a total of 8,302 individuals had their faces and irises scanned. However, the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) expresses concern that this data collection was unfair due to the absence of crucial policies in Chinese.
As a crypto investor, I’ve come across a concern during my recent experience with an iris scanning process at certain locations. The documents pertaining to privacy and biometric data consent were not accessible in Chinese for me to read and fully comprehend. Additionally, the operators did not provide any clarification or confirmation of my understanding regarding these crucial documents.
The Privacy Commission maintains that the Chinese-language version of the policies did not provide adequate clarity for users to comprehend and agree to the relevant terms.
Furthermore, according to Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD), Worldcoin failed to disclose potential risks related to the sharing of biometric information with users. Moreover, they neglected to respond to queries from participants. Consequently, this initiative breached the Personal Data Privacy Ordinance (PDPO) since users lacked the ability to request access or correction to their data.
In response to this situation, the commission has requested an immediate halt to the Worldcoin Foundation’s activities in Hong Kong, which involve scanning and gathering iris and facial images of the general public using iris scanning technology.
Global Scrutiny And New System
“Hong Kong’s clampdown is just one of several hurdles that Worldcoin must navigate on a global scale. Since its unveiling, the project has come under close examination from regulatory bodies in various countries, including Germany, France, and Kenya.”
In the face of international hurdles, the Worldcoin Foundation has introduced a fresh open-source solution to address certain concerns raised by regulatory bodies. This innovative system enables the initiative to implement robust data security features, thereby “ensuring the confidentiality of vital information.”
Using Worldcoin’s robust multi-party computation (MPC) system, user data, including iris codes from registration, is dispersed across various locations for enhanced security. Consequently, these iris codes have been erased from Worldcoin’s database.
In the end, the novel method is designed to tackle issues surrounding the handling of sensitive information, dealing with capacity constraints, and minimizing expenses. This, in turn, lessens the likelihood of data breaches.
Read More
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- MNT PREDICTION. MNT cryptocurrency
- Best Goomba Characters In Mario Games, Ranked
- BCH PREDICTION. BCH cryptocurrency
- USD RUB PREDICTION
- SOL PREDICTION. SOL cryptocurrency
- ALPINE PREDICTION. ALPINE cryptocurrency
- ETHW PREDICTION. ETHW cryptocurrency
- EUR MYR PREDICTION
2024-05-23 06:12