In Kenya, the World (previously Worldcoin) faced a legal setback as the High Court ruled that its biometric data collection practices breached privacy rights protected by the constitution. This ruling is seen as a significant win for advocates of digital rights, both within Kenya and globally, as questions surrounding the controversial cryptocurrency and identity project continue to attract attention.

The High Court's decision, issued by Justice Aburili Roselyne after a judicial review application by Kenya's Katiba Institute, mandated the Worldcoin Foundation and its affiliates to cease all processing of biometric data and delete all previously collected information from Kenyan users. The court emphasized the need for a proper Data Protection Impact Assessment and legitimate user consent for any future data processing activities to comply with the country's Data Protection Act of 2019.

Following a nearly two-year legal battle initiated by the Katiba Institute challenging Worldcoin's methods of data collection using inducements such as WLD tokens worth $50 per person in exchange for biometric scans, the High Court's verdict highlights the importance of upholding constitutional rights, including the right to privacy, in the digital era.

This ruling is expected to have implications for Worldcoin's operations in other jurisdictions, given similar regulatory concerns that have prompted suspensions in places like Indonesia. Despite this setback, Worldcoin continues to expand its reach, with recent launches in several U.S. cities. However, the legal challenges have already affected investor confidence, as evidenced by a 10% decline in the value of the WLD token following the court decision.