Brazil: National Data Protection Authority issued a ruling upholding suspension of financial compensation grants in form of cryptocurrency for iris data collection

On 11 February 2025, Brazil's National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) rejected an appeal by Tools for Humanity (TFH) and the World Foundation, thereby upholding the suspension of financial compensation in the form of cryptocurrency (WorldCoin - WLD) or any other format for World ID registrations based on iris scans in Brazil. The ANPD determined that the compensation offered for biometric data collection undermines the principle of free consent, violating the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) and posing potential risks to data subjects. TFH's request for a 45-day extension to comply with the suspension was denied, and the company is required to immediately halt the practice, postponing iris collection appointments until a technical solution is implemented. The company is required to demonstrate compliance within 10 business days, while all other obligations from previous decisions remain in effect.