Worldcoin, the biometric iris scanning project, has filed a complaint against the actions of the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) for imposing a ban on its operations in Spain. Tools For Humanity, the company behind Worldcoin, argues that the AEPD’s actions circumvent established procedures under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The company contends that the AEPD lacks jurisdiction to intervene and that the appropriate authority is the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA), where Worldcoin is incorporated. While the ban order has led to the pause of World ID verification services in Spain, the World App services related to the project’s digital wallet remain accessible.
By invoking the GDPR and asserting jurisdictional issues, Tools For Humanity aims to contest the legality of the AEPD’s actions and uphold compliance with established regulatory frameworks. However, the outcome of this legal battle will likely have broader implications for the regulatory landscape governing biometric data usage and digital currency operations in the EU. As the case unfolds, it highlights the importance of clarity and consistency in regulatory enforcement to foster innovation while safeguarding user privacy and data security in emerging technologies.
