Hong Kong’s Privacy Protection Agency Launches Investigation Into Worldcoin

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) in Hong Kong has investigated Worldcoin. According to local reports, the government agency entered six Worldcoin offices in Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, Cyberport, Central, and Causeway Bay today, January 31, to conduct investigations.

After their visits, the agency declared that Worldcoin’s operation in Hong Kong posed significant personal data privacy risks. The commission believes collecting and processing sensitive personal data by the organization may violate the provisions of the Privacy Ordinance.

Following the declaration, the PCPD has proactively initiated an investigation into Worldcoin under established procedures. According to reports, the investigation aims to protect the public regarding personal data privacy. Hence, the agency has asked the parties involved to submit relevant documents and provide the required information to aid in the investigation.

Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Chung Liling, has called on the public to be more vigilant about the “Worldcoin” project. The commissioner asked the citizens to protect their data and not casually participate in activities that collect sensitive personal data, such as iris scanning.

The agency’s head highlighted that members of the public should always consider the legality of collecting biometric data before providing it to organizations. Liling also encouraged them to scrutinize the extent and purpose of collecting such data before participating.

Liling asked citizens to scrutinize how the information would be used, to whom it would be disclosed or transferred, and for how long the organization would retain the collected data. He encouraged them to ensure the organization takes security measures to protect the collected data.