Eye-scanning crypto projects pose national security risks, China warns

China’s security agency warned that biometric data collection by crypto firms, including iris scans, may endanger personal privacy and be exploited for espionage.

China warned of the increasing use of biometric data by crypto-linked projects, cautioning that iris-scanning programs operating under the guise of digital asset distribution may threaten personal privacy and even national security.

In a public security bulletin published Wednesday, China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) outlined several emerging risks associated with biometric recognition technologies, including facial, fingerprint and iris data collection.

The MSS cited an unidentified overseas company that, “under the guise of issuing cryptocurrency tokens, scanned and collected iris information from users worldwide and then transferred the data source.” Officials said this posed “a threat to personal information security and even national security.”

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