The Spanish data protection authority has made a public announcement that Worldcoin has entered into a legal agreement to halt its operations in Spain until the conclusion of the current year.

The Spanish Agency for Data Protection (AEPD) announced on June 4th that Tools for Humanity Corporation, the company responsible for the Worldcoin human identity and financial network, has been instructed to halt the collection and processing of data until the conclusion of an ongoing investigation, which is anticipated to be by the end of 2024.

The data protection authority of Bavaria, Germany, known as Bayerische Landesamt für Datenschutzaufsicht (BayLDA), has initiated an investigation into the organization’s handling of personal user data.

This investigation aims to assess whether the organization is compliant with data protection regulations and to ensure the proper treatment of personal data in accordance with the law.

The BayLDA is actively pushing forward with its investigations and is anticipated to reach a conclusion “soon.” The final decision will be in harmony with all concerned European supervisory authorities, including the Spanish authorities.

In March 2024, the Spanish authorities issued an order for Worldcoin to cease the collection and processing of personal data within the scope of its Worldcoin project in Spain.

During this investigation period, Worldcoin has significantly bolstered its security measures by making its biometric data system open-source. Additionally, the company has assured users that they can securely delete outdated iris codes, providing an extra layer of protection for their sensitive data.