World is pausing its operations in Brazil after an appeal to continue collecting citizens’ biometric data failed. The national watchdog ordered the project to cease exchanging crypto for this data, and World will need to pause its operations in order to adapt to this decision.
World Pauses Operations in Brazil to Adapt to National Data Watchdog Decision
World, the proof-of-personhood protocol that seeks to validate the humanity of its participants using biometric data, is facing difficulties derived from its business model in Brazil. The project lost an appeal directed to the National Data Protection Agency (ANDP), asking for a delay of 45 days to adapt to an earlier decision to stop the cryptocurrency rewards given to users enrolling in the project.
In a press release, the board of the ANDP disclose that this order could be “carried out by other means, including postponing appointments, until the adjustment to the app is made.”
The decision comes after a preventive measure of the ANDP, asking the company to stop these crypto exchanges, was ignored, as the company continued to act supported by this now-denied appeal.
The agency alleges that offering these crypto rewards for citizens enrolling into the World platform might interfere with the exercise of free will for the delivery of this data, more so when there is a vulnerability condition from the citizens involved in these transactions.
The ANPD stressed that this consideration reinforces its “commitment to defending fundamental privacy rights and protecting personal data, ensuring that these prerogatives are respected in personal data processing activities in the country.”
Tools For Humanity (TFH), the organization behind World, acknowledged this decision, declaring that it would stop its operations until further notice. TFH answered:
World respects the ANPD’s decision. As the ANPD is aware, it will take time to comply with its order. To allow World to complete the changes in coordination with the ANPD and ensure compliance during this process, we are voluntarily and temporarily pausing the verification service.
The company will have to present a document certifying that these operations have been indeed paused in 10 days.
Read more: Brazilian Authorities Suspend Sam Altman’s World Rewards
