WorldCoin’s parent firm “Tools for Humanity” reportedly invested $4.8 million in cryptocurrency and ICT education in Kenya. This information was revealed by CEO Alex Blania while testifying before a Kenyan parliamentary committee investigating the company’s actions in the nation. These educational efforts, according to Blania, were carried out in partnership with various third-party agencies and partners.

Blania further disclosed the company’s engagements with several key stakeholders in support of their educational efforts. These stakeholders included Strathmore University, the Blockchain Association of Kenya, the American Chamber of Commerce in Kenya, the Africa Blockchain Centre, and New Hope Mukuru.

However, the Kenyan government and critics have raised concerns about the effectiveness of these education programs. They argue that there needs to be more evidence indicating that WorldCoin users in Kenya were adequately educated about the product and the purpose behind the collection of biometric data. This lack of awareness has sparked skepticism and led to scrutiny of the company’s operations.

Despite facing a recent suspension of its license, CEO Blania maintains that WorldCoin operates a legitimate business and is committed to increasing its investments within the East African nation. He expressed the company’s long-term dedication to Kenya, emphasizing its commitment to conducting business with honesty, compliance, and transparency.

Blania also addressed concerns about the potential misuse of user data collected during the registration process. He firmly denied any intentions of selling user data and stressed that the company always seeks the free and informed consent of individuals before processing their personal data. Additionally, he assured that all personal and biometric data collected in Kenya is securely stored on servers located in the United States, Italy, Germany, Poland, or South Africa.

Nevertheless, legal experts suggest that WorldCoin faces significant challenges in defending its case. Technology lawyer Meshack Masibo, in an interview with a local technology outlet, stated that the company would need to demonstrate that it collected and processed Kenyan users’ personal data with their explicit consent. Masibo added, “WorldCoin will be hard-pressed to prove that the users it was collecting data from were properly informed about who was collecting the data, why it was being collected, and the purpose of processing it.”