The Central Electoral Board (JCE) supported this Tuesday the suspension immediate operations of the project called WorldCoin through which they would be collecting biometric data of people, through iris scan of the eyes in exchange for cryptocurrencies.
The measure was adopted last Friday by the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Proconsumer), after the situation was exposed in the media.
In a release this Tuesday, the plenary session of the JCE reported that he also ordered the Legal Consulting that seeks the absolute nullitypresent and future of said actions before the competent courts. “Likewise, and in accordance with the provisions of article 216 of Law No. 423, Organic of Civil Status Acts, provide for the elimination of biometric data that has been collected“by the foreign company, instructs the Legal Consulting.
Also proceed to channel the judicial actions that were appropriate against the alleged responsible of acts violating the law, on the occasion of the capture and collection of biometric data of people through iris scan of the eyes or any other modality that has been used.
Through a releaserecalled that article 58 of Law No. 4-23, Organic of the Acts of the Civil Status when referring to the prohibition in the use of data, provides that no private entity may collect, capture, process and use the biometric data of a person or a client.
Furthermore, he clarified that article 59 of the aforementioned law grants him, as a exclusiveness to the JCEas the body in charge, the collectionstorage, treatment and processing of biometric data of people,” he said.
Ask the population don’t give in personal data
The JCE urged the population not to give up their personal data to third parties or private entities, through biometric procedures that do not comply with the provisions of the law, due to the risks that such actions pose for your identity.
According to the company, prior to Pro Consumer ordered its closure, 7,478 people They authorized the capture of their iris in it country. In addition, nearly 29,000 people downloaded the World App, through which the appointment is scheduled at one of the physical verification centers.
The biometric data are obtained by approaching a spherical ball where the iris and this provides an identifier by which “coins” that can be exchanged or converted to Dominican pesos and according to the publications, these represent an initial amount of 6,000 pesos.
The transactions of cryptocurrencies They are not authorized in the country.
What the company said
World Foundationwho runs the company worldcoinresponded to the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumer), ensuring that their practices in the country They were “legal and transparent.”
In a releaseexpressed his disagreement with the suspension of operations and expressed that it maintains “the highest standards of privacy and transparency in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations in all markets where it operates.”
He assured that he can answer any concerns of the authorities and highlighted that its mission is to “empower people for the age of AI, giving them access to financial systems and opportunities while protecting their privacy through technology avant-garde”.
worldcoin was founded in 2019 by Sam AltmanCEO of the company OpenAIone of the great promoters of the artificial intelligence. This biometric cryptocurrency project with recognition of iris is based in San Francisco and Berlin.
worldcoin uses in its operations a digital proof that it calls “WorldID“, which “securely and anonymously proves that you are a unique human“.
For purposes of verifying that you are “a unique human“The company uses a custom app and device called “the orb“, where the iris of the person.
