Spain: Issued National Court ruling upholding AEPD temporary ban on Worldcoin's data processing activities

On 11 March 2024, the National Court issued its ruling on Tools for Humanity Corporation's appeal of the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) temporary ban on Worldcoin's data processing activities in Spain. Tools for Humanity Corporation, the main developer of Worldcoin, argued that the ban would inflict significant and irreparable damages, both domestically in Spain and globally. Additionally, it was argued that the AEPD does not have the jurisdiction to impose such measures because the company is based in Bavaria, making the Bavarian data protection agency the competent authority for assessing compliance with data protection regulations. The Court determined that AEPD has the jurisdiction to impose such a ban as a precautionary measure. Previously, on 6 March 2024, the AEPD required Tools for Humanity Corporation to stop the collection and processing of sensitive personal data, as well as the blocking of data it had already collected. The order was issued after AEPD received several complaints against Worldcoin, citing issues such as insufficient information, data collection from minors, and the inability to withdraw consent. The temporary ban has a maximum validity period of three months.