World, formerly known as Worldcoin, recently announced the milestone of verifying 10 million humans on its digital identity network.
Worldcoin uses the Orb Network to collect biometric data to establish proof of personhood (an identifier that verifies that an individual is a human and who that individual is).
The company explains that proof of character is necessary due to the rapid development of AI, which threatens the reliability of information and intellectual property rights. In a January 9 blog post, the World team wrote:
“As AI agents evolve, human evidence will provide the cornerstone for enabling ethical and scalable AI, ensuring that humans remain empowered creators in a world increasingly shaped by intelligent machines. no see.”
Digital identity continues to be a hotly debated topic, with critics arguing that digital identity schemes threaten privacy and could be abused by authoritarian governments.
A high-level illustration of the World Network and its component parts. source: world white paper
relevant: German watchdog orders WorldCoin to delete non-compliant data
Worldcoin comes under scrutiny from government regulators.
Worldcoin has received significant legal scrutiny and been ordered to cease operations by state regulators in several jurisdictions.
Kenya was the first country to ban WorldCoin on August 2, 2023, citing potential national security and privacy risks from collecting and storing biometric data.
In March 2024, WorldCoin was ordered to cease data collection in Spain for three months and later agreed to cease operations for the remainder of 2024.
The suspension follows an investigation by Spain’s Data Protection Agency (AEPD) into allegations that the company refused to withdraw user consent and collected data from minors.
The company denied these claims and maintained that its network operates legally in all jurisdictions where it applies.
Portugal also banned Worldcoin for 90 days in March 2024, citing the need to protect citizens’ privacy rights and prevent potentially illegal collection of biometric data.
Hong Kong’s Personal Data Protection Commission (PCPD) ordered Worldcoin to cease operations in Hong Kong in May 2024.
More recently, in September 2024, South Korea fined Worldcoin 1.1 billion won, equivalent to $829,000, for violating personal data protection laws.
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