Now on the ground: Sernac oversees controversial cryptocurrency platform that scans the iris
A state agency was able to verify that the company would not be corroborating whether the people who access the process are of legal age.
He has already asked for information, but now he went on site to see what happens. In order to verify in the field if it is complying with the requirements established by the regulations in force in the country, Sernac inspected the Tools For Humanity Foundation, the entity behind Worldcoin, a controversial cryptocurrency platform that is scanning people’s iris in exchange for this digital currency.
The state agency inspected the premises of this foundation located in the capital, an investigation that is being carried out within the framework of the powers granted to it by the Consumer Law, in particular in this case, Article 15 bis, which empowers the supervisory entity to carry out protection actions in relation to personal data when there are consumer relationships.
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During the on-site inspection, led by Sernac’s own national director, Andrés Herrera, the service demanded from the company’s employees a series of background information to corroborate whether they are complying with the basic principles established by the regulations, including how they inform people of the relevant conditions of the process and its implications. what they will do with the data collected, how they are going to protect people’s personal data and that there is no harm to people. In addition, it was inquired about how to ensure that the people who attend to have the iris scan are of legal age.
The authority explained that through this inspection process, all the background information of this process is being collected to verify that the company is respecting the rights of consumers established in the Consumer Law and the Personal Data Law, among other regulations. If we detect that the company violates the regulations and causes damages to consumers, as Sernac we will not hesitate to use all the tools to give us the Law to defend people, being able to initiate collective actions to seek the reparations, refunds or compensations that we consider pertinent in favor of consumers,” Herrera stressed.
The director of Sernac also said that the concern also points to young people, as well as hypervulnerable consumers, “who might agree to have their iris scanned for economic reasons, but may not be fully aware of the implications of sharing their personal data.”
What we found
During the audit process and as a preliminary measure, it has been possible to verify the lack of information on the service offered to consumers. In addition, it has been found that no information is requested prior to access to the scanning service, specifically, It could not be verified that the company requests documentation that allows consumers to prove their identity for the purposes of proving their legal age. Nor could the existence of a consent and/or authorization protocol for minors under 18 years of age be corroborated.
Recently, Sernac sent a letter to Worldcoin, requesting detailed information on the storage, processing and protection of consumer data. In addition, the audit institution did not rule out, if it deems it necessary, summoning the representatives of the foundation to testify in order to gather more information.