Kenya Directs Sam Altman’s Company to Remove Citizen Data

Kenya’s Nairobi High Court has mandated the deletion of biometric data collected by Sam Altman’s World Web3 project, citing a lack of valid consent from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC). The court’s ruling comes after concerns were raised about the project’s collection of eye scans from Kenyan citizens for its World ID initiative, which aims to provide a digital proof of identity. As of now, neither World nor Altman has publicly responded to the court’s decision.

Details of the Court Ruling

Justice Aburili Roselyne has ordered the World project to permanently erase all facial images and eye scans obtained from Kenyan users. The court has given the project a strict deadline of seven days to comply with this directive. A designated data protection officer will oversee the deletion process to ensure adherence to the court’s order. Additionally, the court has prohibited World from collecting any further biometric data from Kenyan citizens. This ruling follows a legal challenge led by the Katiba Institute and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), which argued that the project’s data collection methods were invasive and posed risks to individual privacy. Joshua Malidzo Nyawa, a representative from the Katiba Institute, hailed the ruling as a significant victory for privacy rights in Kenya.

Background on the World Project

The World project, which is headquartered in the United States, aims to provide “World IDs” as a form of international identification, eliminating the need for individuals to disclose personal information during online interactions. In August 2022, the project set up collection booths in various countries, including Kenya, to gather iris scans using a specialized machine known as the Orb. However, the initiative has faced scrutiny in multiple regions, including Spain and Germany, where concerns about biometric data collection have been raised. The Kenyan government initially investigated the project in 2023, making it the first country to do so, but the inquiry was later concluded without clear outcomes.

Kenya’s Ongoing Concerns

In June 2024, Kenyan authorities instructed Altman to register the World project with both the Office of the Data Protection Commission and the Communication Authority of Kenya. Despite this, the Katiba Institute and ICJ Kenya filed a complaint with the High Court, alleging that the project was infringing on the rights of Kenyan citizens by collecting biometric data without proper authorization. The legal arguments were presented to the court in March 2025, leading to the recent ruling. As the situation unfolds, the response from Altman and the World project remains awaited, leaving many in Kenya concerned about the implications of biometric data collection on privacy rights.

Implications for Data Privacy

The court’s decision underscores the growing importance of data privacy and the need for companies to obtain explicit consent before collecting personal information. The ruling reflects a broader trend of increasing scrutiny on tech companies that handle sensitive data. As countries around the world grapple with the challenges of digital identity and data protection, Kenya’s actions may set a precedent for how biometric data collection is regulated in the future. The outcome of this case could influence similar initiatives globally, as more nations consider the ethical implications of biometric technology in the digital age.

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