The World Coin Thailand project faces a complete shutdown. Thai regulators have officially banned the controversial iris-scanning initiative. This decisive action mandates the immediate deletion of all collected data and a full stop to its activities within the country. The World Coin Thailand operation, which gathered over 1.2 million records, violated national data protection laws by offering cryptocurrency in exchange for biometric information.
Key Details of the World Coin Thailand Ban
The Thai Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) issued the enforcement order. Minister of Digital Economy and Society Chaichanok Chidchob publicly confirmed the directive. An expert panel investigated the World Coin Thailand campaign and concluded its core practice was illegal. Consequently, the company must now erase every record it collected from Thai citizens.
The Core Legal Violation in Thailand
The World Coin Thailand model specifically caused the legal breach. The panel ruled that collecting biometric data like iris scans as a condition for a financial reward is unlawful. This practice violates the country’s Personal Data Protection Act. Therefore, the entire operational premise of the World Coin Thailand campaign was found non-compliant with local regulations.
Immediate Impact and Compliance
Following the order, the World Coin Thailand operations have ceased entirely. The company has stopped all iris-scanning activities. Furthermore, the process to delete the 1.2 million user records is now underway. This action demonstrates the government’s serious commitment to enforcing its data privacy standards.
Broader Implications of the Ban
This World Coin Thailand case sets a powerful global precedent. It signals to other technology companies that strict data rules will be enforced. Moreover, it highlights the ongoing conflict between innovative data-collection projects and established individual privacy rights. The resolution of the World Coin Thailand situation will likely influence regulatory approaches in other nations considering similar technologies.