According to the PCPD, any personal data — including information from iris scans — controlled by Worldcoin “must be collected for a lawful purpose.”
Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) announced an investigation into identity verification project Worldcoin’s local operations, citing “serious risks to personal data privacy.”
In a Jan. 31 notice, the PCPD said it had executed warrants and entered six premises controlled by Worldcoin in Hong Kong as part of an investigation into the project. The commission requested documents and information and warned Hong Kong residents to consider how their biometric data could be used. Worldcoin employs iris-scanning orbs for users to verify their identity.
“The PCPD is concerned that the operation of Worldcoin in Hong Kong involves serious risks to personal data privacy, and believes that the collection and processing of sensitive personal data by the relevant organisation may be in contravention of the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance,” said the PCPD.
