Worldcoin Plans to Extend Identity Verification Tech to Governments

Worldcoin, the controversial blockchain-based iris-scanning identity technology provider, intends to broaden the adoption of its system for identity verification and other applications.

According to a Reuters report, Worldcoin aims to allow governments and organizations to harness its cutting-edge iris-scanning and identity-verification technology.

Tools For Humanity, the San Francisco and Berlin-based company, has successfully onboarded 2.2 million users using a spherical "orb" to conduct iris scans.

With its diverse applications, Worldcoin's technology has the potential to enable companies to execute promotions without requiring personal data collection.

For instance, food establishments that ran a free sandwich promotion could use Worldcoin's system to ensure each individual person does not take more than what has been alloted to them - all the while not compromising their personal information beyond Worldcoin's proof-of-personhood.

Governments are also exploring the possibilities of this revolutionary technology.

Ricardo Macieira, the general manager for Europe at Tools For Humanity, highlighted potential applications for Worldcoin, such as infrastructure for universal basic income and facilitation of global democratic processes.

However, no concrete plans or guarantees have been made in this regard.

The technology behind the iris-scanning orb is set to become open-source, fostering further innovation and adaptation by third parties.

As the expansion targets regions like Europe, Latin America, Africa, and other accepting areas, Worldcoin aims to empower anyone to build their own orb and leverage it for the betterment of their respective communities.

Worldcoin's website hints at various potential applications, such as enabling "global democratic processes" and other authentication use-cases.

Despite its technological promises, data regulators in Britain, France, Germany, and the European Union's Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision have expressed concerns and are investigating the project.

Coinlive reported yesterday that Kenya has taken a more drastic approach, deciding to ban Worldcoin until further notice, effective from August 2.

Despite the company's assurances of compliance with personal data laws, concerns and backlash have been apparent since its initial announcement in 2021.

Worldcoin's foundation asserts that the project is "completely private," with biometric data either deleted or stored in encrypted form at users' discretion.