Brazilian Authorities Block Sam Altman’s Worldcoin from Offering Rewards for User Enrollment
Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) has taken action against Sam Altman’s Worldcoin, the biometric ID platform, by suspending the rewards program for users who sign up on the platform.
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The decision follows concerns raised by the ANPD that offering incentives for sharing personal data could violate Brazil’s data protection regulations. The agency emphasized that consent for processing sensitive personal data, including biometric information, must be freely given, clearly informed, and specific in its purpose.
In its statement, the ANPD explained that offering monetary rewards for biometric data could unduly influence individuals’ decisions to share such sensitive information, particularly in vulnerable cases where the offered payment may hold disproportionate weight.
This suspension, effective as of January 25, is a preventive measure, and further actions may follow depending on the results of ongoing evaluations.
World’s parent company, Tools for Humanity, denied any wrongdoing and stated that they had adhered to Brazilian regulations. The company expressed confidence in resolving the issue with the ANPD and ensuring Brazilians can continue participating in the Worldcoin network.
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World launched in Brazil in November, setting up eye-scanning stations in São Paulo and claiming over 150,000 registered users who were previously incentivized with WLD tokens.
