French Data Watchdog Conducts 'Inspections' at Worldcoin's Office in Paris

cryptonews.com:

France's data watchdog, CNIL, made an unannounced visit to the office of Worldcoin in Paris this week, intensifying the scrutiny surrounding the cryptocurrency project's controversial privacy practices.

The surprise inspection took place at Worldcoin's Orb center, a facility where individuals' irises are scanned to grant access to the platform's crypto services, according to two employees who were present during the visit, Reuters reported. 

Representatives from CNIL questioned the top executive responsible for overseeing Worldcoin's operations in France. 

This unexpected action by the data watchdog comes in the wake of deep-seated concerns expressed by CNIL in July regarding the legality and storage of biometric data collected by Worldcoin. 

CNIL has refrained from making official comments on Wednesday's inspection, which transpired within a co-working space in Paris' 3rd arrondissement.

Worldcoin has established similar hubs across Europe, including Germany, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. 

As reported earlier, the German data protection authority, the Bavarian Data Protection Authority, is collaborating with CNIL in investigating Worldcoin's privacy practices. 

With Worldcoin's EU headquarters situated in Erlangen, Bavaria, the German watchdog is leading a continent-wide inquiry into whether the cryptocurrency project adheres to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Under GDPR regulations, processing biometric data is permitted only under specific conditions, such as obtaining free and explicit consent. 

Worldcoin's unique approach requires users to peer into their designated "Orbs" and have their irises photographed to gain access to the platform and its digital wallet.

The company argues that this method