The Brazilian National Data Protection Authority (‘ANPD’) has ordered Tools for Humanity (‘TFH’) to stop offering cryptocurrency as an incentive for Brazilian citizens to have their irises scanned. According to the ANPD, this type of incentive may influence individuals’ decision to consent to the processing of their biometric data, which qualifies as sensitive personal data and is therefore subject to stricter legal safeguards.
This is a preventive measure intended to avoid potential harm to data subjects while TFH’s compliance with data protection regulations is under review. TFH is a technology company which leads the ‘Worldcoin Project’, an initiative aimed at developing a global identity verification system through iris scanning, in exchange for cryptocurrency and digital ID.
The ANPD has requested information from TFH regarding its data processing activities, the registration of such operations, and a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). TFH has submitted the requested documentation, which is currently under review by the ANPD.
