Privacy Protection Pause: Portugal Temporarily Halts Worldcoin's Biometric Data Collection

The National Data Protection Commission (CNPD) of Portugal has implemented a temporary ban lasting 90 days on Worldcoin's biometric data collection activities within the country, citing concerns over privacy protection, particularly for minors. The decision comes in response to numerous complaints regarding the company's collection of biometric data, including iris, eye, and facial scans, without adequate consent or authorization. The CNPD highlighted deficiencies in the information provided to data subjects and potential issues related to data deletion or revocation. The decision was further prompted by reports indicating that over 300,000 individuals in Portugal had already submitted their biometric data to Worldcoin. This move underscores the CNPD's commitment to enforcing data protection regulations and ensuring compliance with the GDPR's stringent requirements regarding the collection and processing of sensitive biometric information.