According to reports, WorldCoin, the cryptocurrency and human registration initiative linked to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is about to pick back up in Kenya after the police closed an investigation they had launched against the company. According to reports, the policies looked into a number of claims regarding WorldCoin’s operations, which were halted in August 2023. The probes included allegations of improper gathering and dissemination of private, sensitive information.

The local Star newspaper obtained a letter from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to WorldCoin that stated, “The resultant investigation file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for an independent review and advice.” The letter states, “After reviewing the file, the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed and ordered that the file be closed with no additional police action.”

It is further reported that DCI advised WorldCoin to consider appropriate business registration services in coordination with the Registrar of Business registry, as well as appropriate licensing and coordination by the Office of the Data Protection Commission (ODPC) and the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK), in order to maintain prudent operations. It was also suggested by the police that they carry out careful screening and sign formal contracts with all outside contractors doing business in the nation.

As stated by Thomas Scott, the director of operations for the company:

“We appreciate the Director of Public Prosecutions’ resolve to bring the case to a finish and the DCI’s impartial inquiry. But this is a beginning rather than a finish, which is a wonderful outcome. We intend to go on working with the Kenyan government and others, and we anticipate soon resuming World ID registration nationwide. For the time being, we are happy to shift our attention back to furthering Worldcoin’s objective, which is to provide Kenyans and others with chances to engage in the global economy,” he stated.

The company lawyer had on May 21, 2024, written to the DCI to request an update on the status of the case. As reported by BitKE in December 2023, the cryptocurrency project was set to resume operations in Kenya after talks with the government where an agreement was reached to allow the US-based firm to resume operations under new guidelines.