Tools For Humanity, the organization behind Worldcoin, has initiated legal action against Spain's AEPD, contesting the regulatory authority's decision to ban the project's operations for allegedly breaching GDPR protocols. This move underscores a significant clash over privacy and innovation within the EU's regulatory framework.

Worldcoin Takes Legal Action Against Spanish Regulators, Cites GDPR Misapplication

Worldcoin, a proof-of-personhood project, is fighting back against Spanish regulators. Tools For Humanity, the company in charge of Worldcoin's operations, recently announced that it has sued Spain's data protection agency, the AEPD, for its actions against the company, The Daily Hodl reported.

Worldcoin claims that the operations ban and the requirement to withdraw data registered by Spanish users for verification are illegal because they violate procedures already established by the European Union's (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Tools For Humanity argued that the AEPD lacks the authority to halt the company's operations in the country. This is due to the GDPR, which states that the data protection agency that can intervene in this case is located where Worldcoin is incorporated. In Tools For Humanity's case, it would be the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA).

In a press release, the company stated:

“It is unfortunate that the Spanish data protection authority (AEPD) is circumventing established procedures under GDPR with their actions today, which are limited to Spain and not the broader EU.”

Worldcoin Asserts Legal Compliance Amid Spanish Ban, Awaits BayLDA Audit Results

Jannick Preiwisch, the Worldcoin Foundation's data protection officer, emphasized that Tools For Humanity has been operating legally under the supervision of the BayLDA and has consistently responded to the institution's questions and inquiries. BayLDA confirmed that it is currently conducting an audit of the project and will be able to share the findings in the coming weeks, Bitcoin News reported.

While Tools For Humanity believes the ban order is illegal, it has announced that World ID verification services, including biometric scan operations, have been suspended in Spain. Nonetheless, World App services for the project's digital wallet remain available.

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