Worldcoin, the new cryptocurrency project that aims to create a global ID system tied to people’s unique biometric data by scanning everyone’s irises, says its ID system will be open to governments and companies around the world.
Via Reuters:
LONDON (Reuters) – Worldcoin will expand its operations to sign up more users globally and aims to allow other organisations to use its iris-scanning and identity-verifying technology, a senior manager for the company behind the project told Reuters.
Co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Worldcoin launched last week, requiring users to give their iris scans in exchange for a digital ID and, in some countries, free cryptocurrency as part of plans to create a “identity and financial network”.
In sign-up sites around the world, people have been getting their faces scanned by a shiny spherical “orb”, shrugging off privacy campaigners’ concerns that the biometric data could be misused. Worldcoin says 2.2 million have signed up, mostly during a trial period over the last two years. Data watchdogs in Britain, France and Germany have said they are looking into the project.
Ricardo Macieira, general manager for the company behind Worldcoin, said “we are on this mission of building the biggest financial and identity community that we can.”
Michael Will, president of the Bavarian regulator, said it would look into whether Worldcoin’s system is “safe and stable”.
The project “requires very, very ambitious security measures and lots of explanations and transparency to ensure that data protection requirements are not neglected,” Will said.
Will said people who hand over their data need “absolute clarity” about how and why it is processed.
Rainer Rehak, a researcher on AI and society at the Weizenbaum Institute in Berlin said that Worldcoin’s use of technology is “irresponsible” and that it is not clear what problems it would solve.
“The bottom line is it’s a big project to create a new consumer base for Web3 and crypto products,” he said. Web3 is a term for a hypothetical next phase of the internet, based around blockchain, in which users’ assets and data exist as tradable crypto assets.
Addressing privacy concerns, the Worldcoin Foundation, a Cayman Islands-based entity, said in a statement that it complies with all laws governing personal data and will continue to cooperate with governing bodies’ requests for information about its privacy and data protection practices.
Worldcoin was co-founded by Sam Altman, who is also the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind the controversial large language model ChatGPT. The AI mogul previously stated his hopes for the technology to “break capitalism” by enabling the more efficient allocation of resources.
Distinguishing between bots and humans is elevating in importance as AI continues to innovate the tech industry. Using biometric data, as Worldcoin does, is one possible solution — although the challenge for the company will be overcoming privacy concerns.
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Sam Altman of OpenAI setting himself up as a major power broker with both WorldCoin & AI.
And BRICS countdown, Fitch downgrades US credit. pic.twitter.com/pKo9u5zXBF— David Knight Show LIVE 9am EST, M-F (@libertytarian) August 3, 2023
Worldcoin has already agreed to give up your retina scan to the governments of the world.
If it’s free, you are the product.
😂 https://t.co/2PCMO5Rfr4— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) August 3, 2023
Worldcoin To Share ID System With Governments, Corporationshttps://t.co/6Hf7jdALEy
— David Icke (@davidicke) August 3, 2023