The Spanish National Court of Justice supported the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD), which demanded the blocking of the Worldcoin cryptocurrency project due to illegal data collection.

The court has ordered a halt to the collection of personal data and iris scanning of Spanish citizens. The resolution stated: the measures taken by the AEPD to block Worldcoin in the country were justified. Worldcoin's processing of biometric data affects many citizens, and it is unclear whether they actually provided consent to this data processing. Therefore, the protection of citizens’ personal data must come before the economic interests of the company, the court concluded.

In early March, AEPD demanded that Worldcoin be blocked because the project could collect information about minors. However, Worldcoin management filed a complaint against the lifting of the measure banning its activities in Spain for up to three months. The company claims that its data collection process adheres to strict ethical principles and does not involve the purchase or sale of confidential information. In addition, the project uses advanced security measures to protect users' biometric data, Worldcoin management claims.

Still, the court rejected Worldcoin's petition, citing concerns about the inability to revoke consent to the distribution of biometric data. In addition, earlier the National Commission for the Stock Market of Spain (CNMV) also supported the ban on startups within the country. The CNMV clarified that Worldcoin does not have permission to provide investment services or engage in securities-related activities in Spain.

Worldcoin faces regulatory problems not only in Spain, but also in other countries. In March, the South Korean Personal Information Protection Commission also began investigating the activities of this crypto project.