Colombia Hits Sam Altam’s World’s Activities, Terminates Data Treatment Operations
The Facts:
World, the biometric data ID company, has been sanctioned in Colombia due to its alleged noncompliance with national personal data treatment laws. In a recently issued statement, the Superintendence of Commerce and Industry of Colombia (SIC) stated that World Foundation and Tools for Humanity would have to terminate its data treatment activities in the country.
According to the SIC, these companies failed to comply with data laws that indicate that all institutions must have a clear policy regarding the treatment of this data, including procedures allowing users to manage their data, and security measures to manage the risks of handling this data.
Furthermore, the institution claimed that World did not have official authorization to manage personal data, due to the sensitive characteristics of this specific info. The superintendence also criticized that, while the company offered an economic reward for this sensitive data, it failed to provide information about the objective and finality of this activity, violating national rules.
President Gustavo Petro praised this measure, claiming that “sensitive data like the iris of one’s eyes cannot be handed over simply for money, without knowing how it will be used. This practice has led to the closure of these companies.”
Why It Is Relevant:
This decision in Colombia could precede similar measures in other countries in Latam, which have been wary of World’s biometric data collection since its launch.
Other large economies have already taken action against World in correspondence with their local data laws. In February, Brazilian authorities halted World’s activities in the country, ruling that offering economic rewards to users might hurt the users’ free will and undermine their data rights.
In Chile, World was also ordered to delete the personal data collected from a minor without permission, facing heavy criticism for allowing this to happen.
Looking Forward:
Due to its disruptive biometric proposal, World is expected to keep facing this kind of scrutiny and opposition from governments and data regulators. For its vision to succeed, the company must fine-tune its compliance policies, trying to avoid similar headwinds in other jurisdictions.
FAQ 🧭
What recent action did Colombian authorities take against World and Tools for Humanity?
The Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) ordered them to terminate their data treatment activities due to non-compliance with national data laws.What specific violations did the SIC identify regarding World’s data practices?
SIC criticized World for lacking a clear data policy, failing to manage sensitive personal data properly, and not providing information on the purpose behind their data collection.How did Colombian President Gustavo Petro respond to these measures?
President Petro emphasized the importance of protecting sensitive data, stating it should not be exchanged for money without a clear understanding of how it would be used.What implications does this decision have for data collection practices in Latin America?
Colombia’s actions may set a precedent for similar scrutiny in other Latin American countries, especially regarding biometric data compliance and user consent.
