Pro Consumidor demands Worldcoin delete irregularly collected biometric data

Santo Domingo.- The National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumidor) has called on the Worldcoin Foundation to delete biometric data obtained irregularly from over 8,000 citizens in the Dominican Republic. The data was collected through a contract with “abusive clauses” that were neither reviewed nor approved by the institution.

Eddy Alcántara, Pro Consumidor’s executive director, sent a formal request to Worldcoin’s local representatives, urging the immediate deletion of all biometric and personal data. He also demanded verifiable evidence confirming the data’s elimination. Alcántara emphasized that the collection violated Law 358-05 and the Dominican Constitution, which require approval from competent authorities.

The letter highlighted that only the Central Electoral Board (JCE) is authorized to collect and manage biometric data under Law No. 4-23. Alcántara noted that similar actions against Worldcoin have occurred in Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, and other European nations, where authorities mandated the deletion of biometric data collected via iris scans.

Pro Consumidor warned that the unauthorized collection not only infringes on consumer rights but also poses risks to national security and citizen privacy.