UK data regulator to investigate Worldcoin cryptocurrency project

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s data regulator said on Tuesday it will examine Worldcoin, a project by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman where users provide their iris scans in exchange for a digital identification and free cryptocurrency.

“We note the launch of WorldCoin in the UK and will be making further enquiries,” a spokesperson for the Information Commissioner’s Office told Reuters.

Worldcoin launched on Monday with two million users from its trial, with the crypto project scaling up eyeball-scanning operations in 20 countries.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft; editing by Tom wilson)