Worldcoin building global identity network, MPs told

Blania said central to these efforts is provision of World ID, a privacy-preserving proof-of-personhood, and the Worldcoin token (WLD), a virtual asset freely distributed to individuals holding Orb-verified World IDs, other well-known virtual assets include Bitcoin and Ethereum.

"Our commitment to Kenyans is genuine, and we have at all times endeavoured to operate honestly, compliantly and above all transparently. We seek to create a global community of users, operators and developers and have invested in similar types of engagement and partnerships in other countries, including Germany, Portugal, Spain, Chile, and Argentina," said Blania.

World App and the associated self-custodial wallets are available in 168 countries, World ID verifications are available in 17 countries across five continents, including: Africa (Kenya - suspended; Uganda), Asia (Hong Kong; India; Japan; Singapore; South Korea), Europe (France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom), North America (Mexico).

"For over two years, preparations for launching Worldcoin - the hardware, the business model, the communications approach - were made in more than two dozen countries on five continents, countries prioritised for deeper involvement included Argentina, Chile, India, Kenya, and Portugal," said Blania.

He told the committee that his company did not violate any provision of the Kenyan data privacy legislation by submitting its application as a foreign entity without local presence in Kenya.

"The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner thoroughly reviewed and approved both applications, in terms of specific timing, on August 22, 2022, TFH GmbH submitted its application for registration as a Data Controller to the office TFH Corporation followed suit on August 29, 2022 and got awarded a Certificate of Registration on September 15, 2022, TFH Corporation eventually got awarded Certificate of Registration on April 18, 2023," said Blania.

He said the Worldcoin project complies with requirements of the Data Prtoection Act General Regulations, and the Guidance Notes on Consent issued by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner which require consent to be specific, informed, clear, unequivocal and signified through an affirmative action.