Thailand Orders Worldcoin to Halt Operations, Delete User Data

TLDR

• Thailand has ordered Worldcoin to suspend operations and delete user data for violating local data protection laws.
• Authorities instructed Worldcoin to remove all biometric data, including 1.2 million iris scans, collected from Thai users.
• The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society cited the exchange of iris scans for Worldcoin tokens as a violation of national privacy standards.
• Despite halting operations, Worldcoin maintains compliance with local regulations and denies any wrongdoing.
• Worldcoin’s token price dropped following the regulatory action, reflecting market concerns about the company’s operations.

Thailand has ordered Worldcoin to cease operations and delete user data following violations of the country’s data protection laws. The suspension affects around 1.2 million iris scans collected from Thai users, marking another regulatory hurdle for the digital identity platform. Authorities claim the platform’s practices violated the Personal Data Protection Act, which governs the collection and use of personal data.

Thai Authorities Demand Immediate Action

The Economic and Social Development Board of Thailand has instructed Worldcoin to delete all biometric data collected through its iris-scanning technology. This follows a raid on one of the company’s iris-scanning locations in October, during which authorities raised concerns about potential violations of digital asset laws. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society confirmed the company’s practices conflicted with local data protection standards, particularly around the exchange of iris scans for Worldcoin tokens.

Worldcoin responded by confirming that it had paused its verification activities and removed Thailand from its list of available locations.

However, Worldcoin stopped short of admitting any wrongdoing.

The platform emphasized the benefits it provides in protecting users from identity theft and fraud. It argued that its technology offers a critical layer of security for Thai users concerned about AI-driven scams. Despite the regulatory challenge, Worldcoin maintained its stance that it has prioritized user privacy and data protection.

Regulatory Pressure Expands Globally

Thailand is not the only country to scrutinize Worldcoin’s operations. On November 22, 2025, Colombia ordered the deletion of biometric data and suspended Worldcoin’s operations. The Philippines followed suit with similar measures, and countries such as Indonesia, Germany, Kenya, and Brazil have expressed concerns about the platform’s data privacy practices.

Worldcoin has consistently defended its methods, claiming that biometric data is anonymized and not stored on the Orb devices used for iris scanning.

Despite these assurances, concerns continue to mount across various nations about the risks of storing sensitive biometric data.

Worldcoin’s Market Impact

The ongoing regulatory challenges have directly impacted Worldcoin’s market performance. Following the Thai authorities’ directive, the price of Worldcoin (WLD) dropped to an intraday low of $0.6172. The price later recovered slightly to around $0.6192, but this was part of a broader decline in the token’s price.

Worldcoin has faced a prolonged bear market, with its token price falling by nearly 33% over the past year. Further compounding the issue, 37 million WLD tokens, worth approximately $23 million, were unlocked on November 22, 2025. These tokens quickly moved to exchanges, increasing the circulating supply and contributing to additional selling pressure.

While historical trends suggest that regulatory interventions may lead to short-term price rebounds, broader market conditions, including rising supply, suggest a more cautious outlook. Traders and investors will need to monitor the immediate support at $0.573, as any further breach could trigger a more profound decline.

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