Chilean Supreme Court Orders Worldcoin to Delete Minor's Iris Scan Data
Chile's Supreme Court ordered Worldcoin to delete iris scan data of a 17-year-old minor collected without parental consent, finding the practice violated constitutional rights. The court required the company to eliminate all biometric records within 30 days and provide documentation of deletion, reversing an appeals court decision.
What happened
On January 6, 2025, the Chilean Supreme Court upheld a protection order brought by lawyer Rodrigo Lagos, who reported that Worldcoin scanned the iris of his 17-year-old daughter without parental consent, violating her privacy and fundamental rights.
The court ordered Worldcoin to delete all records, storage and processing of the minor's biometric data contained in its Worldcoin and World App platforms within 30 days, and to provide credible documentation confirming effective deletion.
Reported impact
The court found that Worldcoin's actions violated constitutional guarantees related to the minor's physical integrity, psychological integrity, and privacy.
Index analysis
According to lawyer Mauricio Bascur, the ruling sets a significant precedent for biometric data protection in Chile, as iris reading is the most precise biometric data and is irreplaceable.
Patricia Peña, president of Fundación Datos Protegidos, noted that Sernac had already filed a complaint against Worldcoin in 2024 for similar practices, and that Chile has yet to impose substantial fines or sanctions against the company, unlike countries such as Spain where the company's operations have been prohibited.
Governance controls
The Supreme Court reversed a prior decision by the Court of Appeals of Santiago, which had rejected the protection order but characterized the biometric scanning of minors without authorization as illegal and arbitrary.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.