A bill has recently been introduced in Buenos Aires to regulate companies that conduct eye scanning activities, such as Worldcoin. The primary goal of this legislation is to protect the rights of app users and ensure that they have control over the biometric data collected by these entities.
Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires, is looking to establish a regulatory framework for biometric eye-scanning companies like Worldcoin to operate within its jurisdiction. Deputy Carlos Puglelli has presented a bill in the provincial legislature to define how collected biometric data will be used and to safeguard the rights of app users.
The province has taken legal action against Worldcoin, a decentralized ID project utilizing iris scanning, for alleged violations of the law. These infractions include coercing users to agree to unfair contracts and the lack of clarity regarding data treatment protocols. In response, Puglelli’s bill proposes that service contracts should be transparent and free from abusive clauses that contradict existing legislation.
The proposed legislation also stipulates that app managers must obtain explicit and informed consent from users before utilizing their biometric identification data. Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in penalties, including mandatory registration with the province of Buenos Aires and compliance with tax obligations.
Regional deputy Romina Braga has also introduced a separate bill to investigate the activities of Worldcoin in Buenos Aires. Braga expressed concerns about the company’s questionable usage of eye scans and emphasized the importance of upholding privacy rights. She highlighted that Worldcoin lacks legal standing in Argentina and raises significant privacy issues with its biometric data collection practices.
