Colombia suspends Sam Altman’s global operations over data law violations

Colombia’s Industrial and Commercial Supervision (SIC) has decided to terminate data processing activities by Sam Altman’s World due to continued violations of national data laws. The SIC stressed that the World Foundation had failed to present a comprehensive personal data processing plan.

Colombia hits Sam Altum’s global operations, ends data processing operations

fact:

World, a biometric data ID company, has been sanctioned in Colombia for allegedly violating the country’s personal data handling laws. In a recently released statement, the Colombian Superintendent of Commerce and Industry (SIC) said that World Foundation and Tools for Humanity must end their data processing activities in the country.

According to the SIC, these companies did not comply with the Data Act, which states that all institutions must have clear policies regarding the handling of this data, including procedures that give users control over their data and security measures to manage the risks of handling this data.

The agency further argued that World had no formal authority to control personal data due to the sensitive nature of this particular information. The regulator also criticized the company for offering financial rewards for this sensitive data but failing to provide information about the purpose and finality of this activity, in violation of national regulations.

President Gustavo Petro praised the move, arguing that “sensitive data such as the iris of an eye cannot be given away just for money without knowing how it will be used. This practice has led to the closure of these companies.”

Why it’s relevant:

The decision in Colombia could precede similar measures in Latin American countries, which have been wary of World’s biometric data collection since its inception.

Other large economies have already taken action against World in response to local data laws. In February, Brazilian authorities suspended World’s operations in the country, ruling that offering users financial rewards could undermine their free will and undermine their data rights.

In Chile, World was also ordered to delete personal data collected from minors without their permission, and faced intense criticism for allowing this to happen.

Looking forward to:

With its disruptive biometrics proposals, World is expected to continue to face this type of scrutiny and opposition from governments and data regulators. To succeed in its vision, the company will need to fine-tune its compliance policies to avoid similar headwinds in other jurisdictions.

FAQ 🧭

• What actions have Colombian authorities recently taken against World and Tools for Humanity?
  The Commerce and Industry Supervision Authority (SIC) ordered the data processing activities to be terminated due to violations of the country’s data laws.

• What specific violations has the SIC identified regarding global data practices?
  The SIC criticized World for lacking a clear data policy, failing to properly manage sensitive personal data, and failing to provide information about the purposes behind data collection.

• How did Colombian President Gustavo Petro react to these measures?
  President Petro stressed the importance of protecting sensitive data, saying it should not be exchanged for gold without a clear understanding of how it will be used.

• How will this decision affect data collection practices in Latin America?
  Colombia’s actions could set a precedent for other Latin American countries to undergo similar scrutiny, particularly regarding biometric data compliance and user consent.