Colombia’s fixed internet market continued to expand during the first quarter of 2026, reaching 10.49 million accesses in March, approximately 950,000 more than a year earlier, according to the latest Boletín Trimestral del Sector TIC (Quarterly ICT Sector Bulletin) published by Colombia’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC).

The bulletin, which covers January through March, also recorded 10 million 5G accesses during the quarter, representing 7.7% growth from the previous quarter. The figures point to continued expansion of higher-capacity connectivity even as traditional fixed-line telephony continues to decline. The full bulletin is available through the Colombia TIC statistics portal.

“This figure confirms the advance in the expansion of network coverage and capacity.” – MinTIC, in its Quarterly ICT Sector Bulletin

Fiber drives fixed internet growth

Average fixed internet download speeds reached 255.2 Mbps nationally in March, an increase of 17.5 Mbps from a year earlier. Fiber optic connections continued to account for the largest share of fixed internet access, with 6.2 million accesses recorded during the quarter.

Fixed internet penetration reached 19 accesses per 100 inhabitants, continuing the growth trend reported since 2023.

Bogotá recorded the country’s highest fixed internet penetration, at 31 accesses per 100 inhabitants. Antioquia recorded the highest average residential download speeds, exceeding 335 Mbps.

The latest figures reinforce the expansion of fixed broadband infrastructure as Colombia moves toward higher-capacity networks.

5G adoption reaches 10 million

Mobile internet access remained comparatively stable during the first quarter, with 49.6 million accesses recorded nationally. Mobile internet penetration stood at 93 accesses per 100 inhabitants.

4G remained the country’s dominant mobile technology, with 36.5 million accesses. At the same time, 5G adoption continued to accelerate, reaching 10 million accesses, a 7.7% increase from the previous quarter.

Despite that growth, 5G coverage remains geographically limited. MinTIC reported that the technology was available in approximately 12% of Colombia’s municipalities during the quarter.

The expansion follows continued investment in next-generation mobile infrastructure. Finance Colombia previously reported on operators beginning 5G network trials in Colombia while continuing to expand 4G coverage.

Mobile telephony widens its lead over fixed lines

The country’s reliance on mobile communications was also reflected in the latest telephony figures. Colombia had 94.6 million mobile phone lines during the quarter, substantially exceeding the number of fixed lines.

Fixed-line telephony continued its long-term decline. Active fixed lines fell by approximately 760,000 from a year earlier, reaching 5.35 million.

The contrasting trends highlight the changing structure of Colombia’s telecommunications market. Fixed broadband and fiber networks are expanding while mobile connectivity continues to dominate communications and traditional fixed telephony contracts.

The Q1 bulletin provides the latest official snapshot of Colombia’s digital infrastructure as operators continue expanding fiber and 5G networks. Subsequent quarterly data will show whether the pace of 5G adoption and fixed broadband growth continues through the remainder of 2026.

Headline Photo: A man with his phone and beside a 5G pole. (Photo provided by Mintic)

“This will be the largest academic agenda we’ve had in our history,” Díaz said, noting that ANDICOM 2026 is spread across two venues for the first time, the Las Américas complex and the Hotel Faranda Collection. CINTEL, the Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (Center for Research and Development in Information and Communications Technologies), runs technology-adoption projects with Colombian government bodies including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology alongside private-sector clients.

This year’s theme, “Unleashing the Power of AI,” organizes the program around four pillars: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital trust, connectivity and digital infrastructure, and public policy and regulation. Manuel Martínez Niño, CINTEL’s executive director, told El Universal that the congress has become the most important gathering of its kind not only in Colombia but in Latin America, bringing together authorities, government, business, academia, multilateral banks and legislators to work on the country’s digital inclusion.

The congress opened September 1 with the ANDICOM Knowledge Hub at the Faranda Collection, running two parallel sessions Díaz called central to the week: one on the transition to post-quantum cryptography, ahead of what Díaz said industry estimates place around 2029 as the point when quantum computers could break current encryption standards, and another on AI governance and the oversight of autonomous agents.

The European Union is this year’s guest of honor, sending a diplomatic and commercial delegation for sessions on the bloc’s approach to AI regulation, cybersecurity and quantum computing. European companies account for 22% of foreign direct investment in Colombia’s technology sector and have created more than 120,000 jobs in the country, according to figures CINTEL presented for the congress and reported by Cartagena al Día.

Wednesday’s opening ceremony was expected to include Colombia’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Alexandra Falla Zerrate, along with European Union representatives outlining the new government’s technology road map. The day’s keynote speakers included Pilar Manchón, senior director of research strategy at Google AI (NASDAQ: GOOGL), who has described artificial intelligence as “the most profound and transformative technology humanity has ever developed,” and Marc Reguera, worldwide general manager for Microsoft Fabric (NASDAQ: MSFT) customer engagement, on the next generation of intelligent business applications. A separate afternoon panel brought together Julissa Cruz, director of sustainable digital infrastructure at CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean; Alexia González Fanfalone, head of the connectivity services and infrastructures unit at the OECD; Carlos Lugo Silva of the International Telecommunication Union; and a public-policy representative from Amazon Web Services to compare regulatory experiences across countries. In parallel at the Faranda Collection, a forum on financing digital infrastructure and connectivity brought in the European Investment Bank, the World Bank and Colombia’s Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional.

Thursday’s agenda centered on a regulatory panel gathering officials from across the region: Gonzalo Balseiro, president of Uruguay’s Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones (Communications Services Regulatory Unit); Sergio Sotomayor Rodríguez, director of Colombia’s National Spectrum Agency; Felipe Augusto Díaz Suaza, executive director of the Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones (Communications Regulation Commission); and Lucas Gallitto, head of Latin America and the Caribbean for the GSMA. The day also featured a panel of telecommunications-company executives from WOM, Claro, Tigo and LinkMax discussing the sector’s challenges and opportunities.

Friday’s keynote speakers included Eric Martorell Bouvier of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE), on digital sovereignty and data infrastructure. Díaz said the closing keynote was expected to include President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was set to address technology and AI as drivers of the country’s economic and social development.

Díaz pointed to a Wednesday afternoon session on AI in the creative industries, covering the technology’s use in music and film production, as one he was personally looking forward to. The congress’s commercial exhibition includes more than 215 companies, and its mobile app lets attendees flag sessions and schedule meetings, a feature Díaz said has become central to the networking Loren Moss described as one of ANDICOM’s main draws.

ANDICOM 2026 will bring together technology companies, government representatives, academics and business leaders in Cartagena from September 1–4 to discuss how artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation into practical applications for productivity, competitiveness and economic development. The congress, organized by CINTEL (Centro de Innovación, Productividad y Desarrollo Tecnológico, or Center for Innovation, Productivity and Technological Development), will take place under the theme “Unleashing the Power of AI.”

The 41st edition of the event will open on September 1 with the ANDICOM Knowledge Hub 2026 – Business Impact Sessions, followed by the Main Academic Forum from September 2–4. The European Union will participate as guest of honor, while Colombia’s national government and executives from global technology companies including Fortinet, Zoho Corporation, Microsoft, Blend360, Google Cloud and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are expected to contribute to the agenda.

“The conversation about artificial intelligence has evolved. Today organizations no longer ask what this technology can do, but how to apply it to increase productivity, strengthen competitiveness, improve decision-making and generate sustainable advantages,” – Mario Castaño, technical director of CINTEL.

The European Union’s participation will focus on artificial intelligence as infrastructure for economic development and digital transformation. According to ANDICOM, the bloc represents 22% of foreign direct investment in Colombia’s technology sector, has generated more than 120,000 jobs through European companies operating in the country and will bring together representatives from its 27 member states during the congress. “ANDICOM will be the stage where global leaders share experiences, real cases and strategies to turn that potential into concrete results.” promised Mario Castaño.

The event’s academic program will focus on four strategic areas: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital trust, connectivity and digital infrastructure, and public policy and regulation. Discussions will cover topics including AI adoption, automation, advanced analytics, data platforms, digital talent, sustainability, digital government and the future of work.

The opening day will also feature the CINTEL AI Forum, which will examine governance and responsible adoption of AI agents, as well as the CyberShield Forum, focused on cybersecurity challenges linked to the development of quantum technologies and Colombia’s transition toward post-quantum cryptography.

Confirmed speakers include Derek Manky, chief security strategist at Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT), who will discuss how artificial intelligence is changing the cybersecurity landscape through autonomous attacks, deepfakes and emerging digital threats.

Raju Vegesna, chief evangelist at Zoho Corporation, will address digital sovereignty and the changing relationship between companies, governments and technology platforms. Marc Reguera, worldwide customer engagement general manager at Microsoft Fabric, will discuss how organizations can use AI and data analytics to improve decision-making and create business value.

The agenda will also involve Andrés Barrantes, regional vice president for Latin America at Blend360, an Amazon Web Services Premier Partner, who will examine strategies for using artificial intelligence to monetize data, optimize costs and improve competitiveness.

Pilar Manchón, senior director of AI research strategy at Google Cloud, will share perspectives on AI research and innovation, while Eric Martorell Bouvier, director of artificial intelligence solutions for Latin America and southern Europe at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Servicelab AI, will discuss enterprise adoption of AI solutions.

Alongside the Main Academic Forum, the Experience Hub will provide demonstrations of technology solutions and innovations developed by participating companies, creating a connection between business needs, technological capabilities and investment opportunities.

The complete agenda is available through the ANDICOM agenda page.

Organized annually by CINTEL, ANDICOM has become one of Latin America’s largest technology and business gatherings, bringing together executives, public officials, investors, academics and technology providers to examine the role of digital transformation in the region’s economy.

Headline phot: Andicom on Day 2 in Nueva Granada salon. (Photo shared by Clicksalinas Photographer)

Colombia’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC) has fined Telecall Colombia more than COP $7.4 billion for failing to meet two administrative obligations linked to its 5G spectrum assignment, while maintaining the company’s commitments to expand connectivity across the country.

Telecall was one of the winners of Colombia’s December 2023 5G spectrum auction. Through the process established under Resolution 3947 of 2023, the company secured an 80 MHz block in the 3500 MHz band, a key frequency for next-generation mobile networks, after submitting a bid of COP $318.3 billion.

The spectrum permit, granted through Resolution 498 of February 23, 2024, authorized Telecall to use the assigned spectrum for 20 years. As part of the agreement, the company accepted a series of investment and coverage obligations designed to support Colombia’s digital inclusion goals.

These commitments include deploying mobile infrastructure along road corridors, providing fiber-optic connectivity to 343 educational institutions, and expanding mobile infrastructure progressively in capital cities and municipalities with populations exceeding 200,000 people.

“The decision does not modify the essential conditions of the spectrum assignment nor reduce the obligations the operator assumed.” – Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC)

MinTIC identified two breaches during its compliance monitoring process: the delayed payment of the first installment of the economic consideration associated with the spectrum assignment and the failure to submit required performance and third-party civil liability guarantees.

The ministry initiated administrative proceedings through Resolutions 05035 and 05033 of 2024. After initial decisions issued in January 2025, Telecall filed requests for reconsideration and appeals.

Following the appeals process, MinTIC determined that any potential termination of the permit would need to follow the formal sanctioning procedure established under Colombia’s Administrative Procedure and Administrative Litigation Code and Law 1341 of 2009, ensuring the company’s right to due process.

The ministry later opened sanctioning proceeding BDI-11784-2026 through Resolution 107 of March 6, 2026. During the process, Telecall completed the outstanding requirements that had triggered the investigation.

The company paid the pending spectrum consideration installment, representing 13% of the economic obligation and including the applicable adjustment, for approximately COP $46.9 billion on March 25, 2026. It also submitted the required performance and civil liability guarantees on March 27, which were reviewed and approved by MinTIC on May 13.

However, the subsequent compliance did not eliminate responsibility for the earlier delays. After completing the administrative process, the Directorate of Surveillance, Inspection and Control issued Resolution 02044 on May 29, 2026, imposing a fine of COP $7.42 billion. The decision became final on June 11, 2026.

To protect the continuity of the infrastructure rollout, MinTIC later issued Resolution 02199 on June 16, 2026, adjusting the timeline for Telecall’s spectrum performance obligations.

The adjustment does not alter the core terms of the spectrum assignment. According to MinTIC, the permit duration, economic consideration, payment obligations, coverage commitments, school connectivity requirements, mobile infrastructure targets, and digital divide objectives remain unchanged.

Headline image: Mauricio Lizcano announcing the inclusion of 5G in Colombia. (Photo shared by MinTic)

Insight Global, the Atlanta-based talent and consulting company, has opened a capability center in Bogotá, Colombia. It has now established the city as the base for its Latin American operations as demand for nearshore services continues to grow.

The center officially launched on June 1 and will support corporate, client, and consultant delivery functions across Insight Global’s operations. The company said the facility is part of its broader international expansion strategy to better serve clients and consultants across multiple markets.

Insight Global currently has more than 1,500 active workers supporting projects throughout Latin America, according to the company.

“It will serve as an extension of our middle and back-office functions as well as being our hub for Latin American Operations.” – Chris Abbeduto, Vice President of Global Operations, Insight Global

Chris Abbeduto, Insight Global’s vice president of global operations, described the Bogotá facility as a strategic investment in the company’s regional growth.

The company said the Bogotá initiative was more than a year in development. The center’s workforce consists of fully bilingual employees fluent in Spanish and English, who were integrated into Insight Global’s culture, systems, and training programs from the beginning.

Insight Global selected Bogotá partly because of its established talent market and its ability to support collaboration with US-based teams during overlapping business hours. The company said this alignment enables same-day communication between teams in North America and Latin America, a key factor for nearshore delivery models.

The opening shows growth in Colombia’s business services sector, where companies have increasingly established regional centers focused on technology, customer support, operations, and specialized services. Bogotá’s combination of skilled talent, language capabilities, and geographic proximity to North American markets has contributed to its position as a major nearshore destination.

Founded in Atlanta, Insight Global provides staffing, consulting, and AI services through nearly 40,000 employees supporting more than 3,200 companies across over 40 countries. The company works across areas that include cloud, artificial intelligence, data, enterprise operations, and applied engineering.

Above image of Insight Global’s Bogotá site, courtesy of the company.

Cinemotion Labs will open its 2026 edition with an exclusive location-scouting tour through Medellín on Monday, August 10, one day before the conference officially begins. The tour is aimed at producers, directors, filmmakers, creative agencies, audiovisual companies, and investors, and is limited to 40 participants.

Attendees will visit some of the settings that have made Medellín a strategic destination for national and international productions, including the El Perpetuo Socorro creative district, downtown Medellín, and the heritage neighborhood of Prado. The route is designed to show real filming locations, production opportunities, and the city’s audiovisual ecosystem, along with the competitive advantages Medellín offers for film, series, commercials, and digital content.

The experience includes transportation, a specialized guide, and networking among professionals from different countries, which organizers say is meant to strengthen collaboration and new projects across the sector.

“We want attendees to experience the industry beyond the conferences,” said Verónica Marín, project manager of Cinemotion Labs. “This tour will let them see why Medellín has established itself as an attractive setting for international-caliber audiovisual productions, and at the same time build connections that can turn into future partnerships and projects.”

The activity underscores Medellín’s push to market itself as a filming hub. The El Perpetuo Socorro district is the city’s first Área de Desarrollo Naranja (Orange Development Area), part of a broader creative-economy strategy that Finance Colombia has tracked through the country’s growth in the motion picture sector and the tax incentives behind its creative “orange economy.”

“This tour will let attendees see why Medellín has established itself as an attractive setting for international-caliber audiovisual productions,” said Verónica Marín, project manager of Cinemotion Labs.

The tour is available only to those who register for the Cinemotion Labs academic program, and organizers have capped participation at 40 people because of the personalized nature of the experience. Cinemotion Labs’ conference will be happening from August 11 to 12, 2026. 

Registration and additional details for the conference and the location tour are available through the Cinemotion Labs website.

Headline photo of Medellín’s Comuna 13 (photo © Loren Moss)

Her presentation explored the “platinum rule” of leadership, which is treating people the way they want to be treated, as well as the changing expectations of different generations entering the workforce.

With Colombia’s BPO industry employing a large and increasingly younger workforce, Walden, A Colombian with roots in Santander, discussed how leaders can better engage Gen Z employees, build psychological safety, improve communication, and adapt to a rapidly changing global workplace shaped by technology, globalization, and shared experiences such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finance Colombia’s Executive Editor Loren Moss was able to speak with Walden about her concepts and guidance for innovative employers in any industry sector.

Finance Colombia: We’re here at the CX Summit 2026. I’m with Lisa Walden. You’re quite the superstar. There’s been such a line of people looking at your book, The Future of Work is Human. You gave a great talk, and it’s exciting to have you here. At the end, there was a big surprise for me. I heard you speaking pretty good Spanglish, and then I learned you’re Colombian.

Lisa Walden: Yes, I am.

Finance Colombia: Wow, that’s so cool.

Lisa Walden: Yeah, I think so too. I very much represent Colombian pride as much as I can. This necklace is actually from Colombia, so I wanted to be wearing it on stage with me.

Finance Colombia: Great. And we could talk for an hour about that, but I think we want to talk about your presentation today. You gave an interesting talk, and you also have a book about this: how to relate to people differently in the workplace.You talked about the Golden Rule, which is to treat people the way you would want to be treated, but then—

Lisa Walden: The Platinum Rule.

Finance Colombia: Yes, exactly. The Platinum Rule: treat people the way they would want to be treated.

Lisa Walden: Yes, exactly.

Finance Colombia: Which is all the difference in the world, isn’t it?

Lisa Walden: Yeah. We don’t live in a one-size-fits-all world. Being able to know how to customize your leadership approach for the people you’re leading is the way to do it better: to lead in a more human-specific, nuanced way.

I know that’s hard. It’s not easy to do that if you have a team of 20. But that’s why I always say micro moves are your best friends. Think about what micro adjustments you can make that will help you connect and lead more effectively.

Finance Colombia: Something else that you touched on was interesting: how leaders in businesses — and that doesn’t just mean managers and directors, but leaders of all types, no matter their title — interact with people from different generations.

In a way, this can become a stereotype when people talk about Baby Boomers, Gen X, and other generations. But I think the message is to understand the people on your team and relate to them in a way that makes sense and is productive for both the organization and the individual. Is that the gist of it?

Lisa Walden: Oh yeah, 100%. As you said, sometimes people use these generational names as stereotypes, and I really caution against that.

It’s more a lens that you see other people through. It’s one piece of information, one additional bit of texture and nuance to how you lead, but you have to do the work yourself as well.

You have to find out, as individuals, what their preferences are, how they like to receive feedback, how they like to be appreciated, and what their style of work is. When you gain all that information, that’s what really helps you be a better leader.

Finance Colombia: Now, your consultancy has a business partner, and you both do consulting aside from having written a book together.

Lisa Walden: We have it here!

Finance Colombia: The Future of Work is Human. We’ll link to it, of course. Beautiful cover, by the way.

Lisa Walden: Thank you. We worked really hard on that. The first few we received were a no, but we landed on something good.

Finance Colombia: Great. My question is: what do you do as partners in your consultancy? What’s the purpose of the business, and what type of clients do you serve?

Lisa Walden: Our very tongue-in-cheek mission is to help people create workplaces that don’t suck.

We used to work together at an organization as generational consultants, and everyone would say, “Oh, we love your job. It’s so awesome. How do we work for you?”

We identified the gaps where people could focus more on the humans in the workplace and decided to make it our mission to help people create workplaces that don’t suck — but even better, make awesome workplaces.

The work that we do is focused on that people-first lens. We look at generations at work: Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z. We look at building psychological safety and trust, communication, and compassionate leadership.

Mostly, we deliver this content at meetings, associations, and events. But we also go into organizations. We do team building, workshops, and consulting engagements when a client comes to us with a very specific ask.

Our mission is simple: helping people create workplaces that don’t suck. The way we disseminate that information and pursue that mission is pretty varied.

Finance Colombia: That’s fascinating. Is there a website or a way people who might need that service can get in touch with you?

Lisa Walden: Absolutely. You can find me on LinkedIn. My name is Lisa X Walden, and you can find me easily with the X Walden. The X is for my middle name, Ximena, which is very common here in Colombia.

You can find us on Instagram at @goodcompanyconsulting, and you can also find our website at www.goodcompanyconsulting.com.

Finance Colombia: Lastly – and you’ve been very generous with your time – I love seeing the interest. We’ve been standing here and people keep coming up to you, which is amazing.

Lisa Walden: It’s cool.

Finance Colombia: I’ve been coming to this event for about 15 years, and I’ve never seen that kind of response. I’ve seen other popular people, but not like that. That’s really impressive for the keynotes.

Lisa Walden: Wow. Thank you for saying that.

Finance Colombia: What are the takeaways that people in the BPO industry specifically can use and apply?

Also, you talked about life-defining events and the things we remember — whether it’s 9/11 or other major events. It’s fascinating because you look at the parallels and differences between Colombia and other generations.

I think about the older generation when they think about the Bogotazo, when the presidential candidate was killed and everything that happened afterward. Were there differences that you found, or any surprises as you prepared for this and unpacked that?

Lisa Walden: I focused mostly on Gen Z because that was my ask. It sounds like for many BPOs, a vast majority of their employees are within that generational age range.

Gen Z right now is between 16 and 30, so I really focused on them in my interviews and research for this event.

I’ll also say that when we look at generations, the way we talk about them is through events and conditions during formative years — roughly your teenage years. Of course, a different country is going to have different formative events for different generations.

For Gen Z, there is so much that’s similar because of globalization, the internet, COVID, and technology. We have access to the same types of things, so they are showing up much more similarly across the board than older generations.

Of course, there are some uniting events. For example, I asked the room, “What is an event or condition you remember from your formative years?” I want to say there was a Millennial in the room who said 9/11, and a Colombian Millennial who said a Colombian event.

There are shared events and conditions globally, but for Gen Z, there are so many of them. I went in knowing that, but I was surprised to find the level of similarity between how that is shaping them at work.

Things like really prioritizing mental health, prioritizing their own wellness, and pushing for work-life harmony — that’s what we call it. It’s not balance, but it’s about getting resources from work that make them better people outside of work and then being able to unplug after work so they can be better at their work when they come back.

They also have a different association with people in positions of authority and a different kind of work ethic, I would say. It can push some people because it’s different from what they’ve seen in the past.

We see that cyclical conversation: “Oh, this generation doesn’t want to work anymore.”

What really surprised me was the similarities and how many there were. It was truly shocking, even as a generational researcher, to say: “Wow, the similarities across these countries are pretty staggering.”

Finance Colombia: Absolutely. We’re all on the same internet and connected. If you look at globalization, Colombians consuming US content and people in the US being able to access channels from Uzbekistan and Bangladesh on their cable systems now — it’s a different world.

Lisa Walden: Yep, exactly. You can see the whole world now. So yeah, it makes sense.

Finance Colombia: Great. You’ve been so generous with your time. Thanks so much. It’s an honor to talk to you, and it’s been a lot of fun.

Lisa Walden: Thank you for having me. It’s such a pleasure. I’m just happy to be here.

Finance Colombia: Great.

Colombia’s data-protection authority has made final its order shutting down the local iris-scanning operation run by World (formerly Worldcoin) and its developer, Tools for Humanity, closing off any further appeal.

The Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (Superintendency of Industry and Commerce, or SIC), the country’s consumer-protection and data authority, confirmed the sanction it first imposed in 2025 against World Foundation—previously Worldcoin Foundation—and Tools for Humanity Corporation after resolving the companies’ appeals. The confirmation came through Resolution 45710 of June 18, 2026, which upholds Resolution 78798 of October 3, 2025 in full. Because the decision confirms rather than modifies the original ruling, no further recourse is available, the agency said.

The sanction consists of the immediate and definitive closure of every operation in Colombia that involves the processing of personal data. World Foundation and Tools for Humanity may no longer carry out any data-processing activity in the country, and the SIC ordered them to delete all sensitive personal data—including iris codes—collected since they began operating.

“Consent for the processing of biometric data must be free and cannot be conditioned on economic incentives that affect a person’s will.” — Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC)

The two companies started operating in Colombia in the first half of 2024, gathering biometric images of the iris from thousands of people through devices known as “Orb.” In exchange, participants received economic compensation and could create an account to obtain a World ID, the project’s proof-of-personhood credential. The SIC found that the images were put through various forms of processing, such as biometric templates, but that the purposes of that processing were neither sufficiently clear nor properly disclosed.

Investigators at the agency’s data-protection directorate concluded that the operation breached several duties under Ley 1581 de 2012 (Law 1581 of 2012), Colombia’s personal-data-protection statute: the companies lacked compliant data-treatment policies, had no procedures for handling habeas data requests, failed to adopt adequate security measures for sensitive data, and did not obtain valid authorization from the people whose data they collected.

Consent was central to the ruling. The SIC determined that World conditioned people’s willingness to hand over sensitive information on the offer of an economic incentive, and that it did not provide clear, transparent, and simple information about the specific purposes of the processing.

“Consent for the processing of biometric data must be free and cannot be conditioned on economic incentives that affect a person’s will,” the SIC said. The agency added that biometric data such as the iris image carry special constitutional and legal protection, and that measures like encryption, pseudonymization, or fragmentation are legitimate safeguards but do not turn biometric data into anonymous information when the system can still single out an individual.

The regulator, led by Superintendent Cielo Rusinque, framed the decision as a warning to any company—foreign or domestic—whose business model involves processing the data of people in Colombia. The country’s data-protection regime, it said, binds foreign companies regardless of their domicile, business model, or the complexity of their technical architecture. The SIC also stressed that it does not seek to discourage technological development, innovation, or the economic freedoms recognized in Article 333 of Colombia’s Constitution, but that data-driven businesses must operate responsibly and within the law.

The case is not World’s first regulatory clash in Colombia. Finance Colombia previously reported on allegations that the project targeted vulnerable populations for iris scans as it expanded across the country. The company had promoted World ID verification in Colombia as part of a broader global rollout.

The two-day program, themed Del Proceso Lineal al Ecosistema Interconectado (From the Linear Process to the Interconnected Ecosystem), treats the integration of creativity, technology, and operations as the determining factor in whether productions are efficient, collaborative, and innovative — a framing that maps closely onto how enterprise media, marketing, and communications teams increasingly manage high-volume content.

The first day examines the impact of artificial intelligence across creative work, production, postproduction, and the generation of new content, along with process automation and the workflow openings AI creates. The second day addresses the enabling technologies: virtual production, motion capture, connectivity, and cloud-based collaboration, and the methodologies changing how films, series, commercials, and digital content are produced.

“Cinemotion Labs was created to connect the audiovisual industry with the technologies that will shape its future,” said Verónica Marín, project manager of Cinemotion Labs.

“Cinemotion Labs was created to connect the audiovisual industry with the technologies that will shape its future,” said Verónica Marín, project manager of Cinemotion Labs. “Our academic program aims to offer a comprehensive view of how artificial intelligence, virtual production, and new workflows are transforming the way we create stories and develop audiovisual projects.”

Beyond the sessions, an exhibition floor will feature manufacturers, distributors, and specialized firms showing production and postproduction solutions, complemented by networking spaces, a cocktail reception, and an awards ceremony.

Admission to the academic program is free and includes access to all sessions and the commercial exhibition, digital proceedings, an electronic certificate of attendance, a digital subscription to the event’s official media outlet, and access to the cocktail reception and awards.

The event takes place at the facilities of Telemedellín in Medellín, Colombia — a market that has steadily grown as a base for creative and technology talent. Registration is available at the Cinemotion Labs website.