Worldcoin Achieves 10 Million Verifications Amid Regulatory Challenges

According to Cointelegraph, World, previously known as Worldcoin, has reached a significant milestone by verifying 10 million individuals on its digital identity network. This network utilizes orbs to gather biometric data, establishing proof of personhood to confirm both the humanity and identity of individuals. The company emphasizes the necessity of proof of personhood in light of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, which pose threats to the reliability of information and intellectual property rights. In a statement, the World team highlighted that as AI agents evolve, proof of human identity will likely become essential for enabling ethical and scalable AI, ensuring that humans remain empowered creators in a world increasingly influenced by intelligent machines. The topic of digital identity remains contentious, with critics expressing concerns that digital ID schemes could infringe on privacy and be misused by authoritarian regimes. Worldcoin has faced considerable legal scrutiny and has been instructed by regulators in various jurisdictions to halt operations. Kenya was the first to ban Worldcoin on August 2, 2023, citing potential national security and privacy risks associated with the collection and storage of biometric data. In March 2024, Worldcoin was ordered to cease data collection in Spain for three months and later agreed to suspend operations for the remainder of the year. This suspension followed an investigation by Spain's Agency for the Protection of Data (AEPD) over allegations of denying user consent withdrawal and collecting data from minors. Worldcoin has denied these claims, asserting that it operates lawfully in all jurisdictions covered by its network. Portugal also imposed a 90-day ban on Worldcoin in March 2024, citing the need to safeguard citizens' privacy rights and prevent potentially unlawful biometric data collection. In May 2024, Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) ordered Worldcoin to cease operations in the region. More recently, in September 2024, South Korea fined Worldcoin 1.1 billion Korean won, equivalent to $829,000, for allegedly violating personal data protection laws. These regulatory challenges highlight the ongoing debate over digital identity and the balance between technological advancement and privacy protection.