Latest news with #Worldcoin
Bangkok Post
4 hours ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Panel, agencies seek biometric guidelines
The Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) convened with related public and private agencies to seek ways to establish clearer guidelines to regulate the collection and use of biometric data, particularly iris scans, over concerns pertaining to the use of personal data. This follows widespread public participation in an iris scan activity carried out by Tools For Humanity Thailand in exchange for digital asset rewards as part of a campaign. Pol Col Suraphong Plengkham, secretary-general of the PDPC, said the eye scanning campaign raised concerns as to whether the data collected could be misused or whether or not the campaign complied with the law. The committee early this week invited key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, including Tools For Humanity Thailand, to jointly establish regulatory guidelines on this matter. Participating agencies included the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, the Department of Special Investigation and National Telecom. Representatives from the private sector included TIDC Worldverse Co Ltd, M Vision Plc, Bitkub Online Co Ltd, Com7 Plc and J.I.B. Computer Group Co Ltd. The use of biometric data from iris scans is classified as sensitive personal data under Section 26 of the Personal Data Protection Act. The meeting concluded that the PDPC will examine the company's process of requesting consent from the owners of the personal data regarding the iris scans to ensure transparency. The ETDA will verify whether the company's app is legally registered, while the SEC will investigate whether foreign apps are being used to generate income within Thailand's financial system. DATA 'NOT STORED IN APP' Pakapol Thangtongchin, country manager of Tools For Humanity Thailand, told the Bangkok Post that the company provided an update on its local operations during the meeting. He told the meeting that the company does not verify "identities" but rather provides "proof of humanity", meaning retina data is not stored in the company's app. The PDPC also requested additional documents from the company to conduct an in-depth technical review, Mr Pakapol added. The SEC wishes to ascertain whether the company's Worldcoin cryptocurrency has been traded legally. Mr Pakapol confirmed that the company trades the coins within five licensed cryptocurrency exchanges in Thailand. The ETDA is concerned about mini apps within the company's app ecosystem, particularly those related to financial services, which may not be authorised in Thailand. "We will closely monitor and address any regulatory concerns," Mr Pakapol added. He also noted that the rising value of cryptocurrencies and current economic challenges have led to an increasing amount of public interest in applying for the company's World app in order to receive free Worldcoin in exchange for having an eye scan. Currently, 10,000 people a week have been getting their eyes scanned via its Orb devices in public locations. However, he warned that some unauthorised individuals may engage in illegal activities, such as in-person meetups to exchange digital assets for cash outside the authorised exchanges. "We will educate our coin users on how to use the wallet properly and encourage them to trade only through authorised exchanges," he said. He said that before operating in Thailand, the company had already sought consultations with three regulators as to whether its service is legitimate or complies with the law.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vitalik Buterin has reservations about Sam Altman's World project
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is arguing that the digital identification approach being promoted by Sam Altman's World project has real privacy risks. Previously known as Worldcoin, World was created under Altman and Alex Blania's Tools for Humanity. The organization says it can help distinguish between AI agents and human beings by scanning users' eyeballs and creating a unique identity for them on the blockchain. In a lengthy post, Buterin noted that World's approach of using zero-knowledge proofs to verify human identity while protecting anonymity is also being explored by various digital passport and digital ID projects. And he acknowledged that 'on the surface,' using a 'ZK-wrapped digital ID' could contribute to 'protecting our social media, voting, and all kinds of internet services against manipulation from sybils and bots, all without compromising on privacy.' However, Buterin suggested that this approach still boils down to a 'one-per-person' ID system, which creates significant risks. 'In the real world, pseudonymity generally requires having multiple accounts … so under one-per-person ID, even if ZK-wrapped, we risk coming closer to a world where all of your activity must de-facto be under a single public identity,' he wrote. 'In a world of growing risk (eg. drones), taking away the option for people to protect themselves through pseudonymity has significant downsides.' As a concrete example of the risks, Buterin noted that the U.S. government recently started requiring student and scholar visa applicants to set their social media accounts to public, so that it could screen those accounts for 'hostility.' Similarly, he suggested that even if there's no public link between different accounts created under a single digital ID, 'a government could force someone to reveal their secret, so that they can see their entire activity.' Instead, Buterin is advocating for an approach emphasizing 'pluralistic identity,' in which 'there is no single dominant issuing authority, whether that's a person, or an institution, or a platform.' Pluralistic systems can either be 'explicit' (they ask users to verify their identity based on testimonials from already-verified users) or 'implicit' (relying on a variety of different identity systems) — in his view, these represent 'the best realistic solution.'
TechCrunch
28-06-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Vitalik Buterin has reservations about Sam Altman's World project
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is arguing that the digital identification approach being promoted by Sam Altman's World project has real privacy risks. Previously known as Worldcoin, World was created under Altman and Alex Blania's Tools for Humanity. The organization says it can help distinguish between AI agents and human beings by scanning users' eyeballs and creating a unique identity for them on the blockchain. In a lengthy post, Buterin noted that World's approach of using zero-knowledge proofs to verify human identity while protecting anonymity is also being explored by various digital passport and digital ID projects. And he acknowledged that 'on the surface,' using a 'ZK-wrapped digital ID' could contribute to 'protecting our social media, voting, and all kinds of internet services against manipulation from sybils and bots, all without compromising on privacy.' However, Buterin suggested that this approach still boils down to a 'one-per-person' ID system, which creates significant risks. 'In the real world, pseudonymity generally requires having multiple accounts … so under one-per-person ID, even if ZK-wrapped, we risk coming closer to a world where all of your activity must de-facto be under a single public identity,' he wrote. 'In a world of growing risk (eg. drones), taking away the option for people to protect themselves through pseudonymity has significant downsides.' As a concrete example of the risks, Buterin noted that the U.S. government recently started requiring student and scholar visa applicants to set their social media accounts to public, so that it could screen those accounts for 'hostility.' Similarly, he suggested that even if there's no public link between different accounts created under a single digital ID, 'a government could force someone to reveal their secret, so that they can see their entire activity.' Instead, Buterin is advocating for an approach emphasizing 'pluralistic identity,' in which 'there is no single dominant issuing authority, whether that's a person, or an institution, or a platform.' Pluralistic systems can either be 'explicit' (they ask users to verify their identity based on testimonials from already-verified users) or 'implicit' (relying on a variety of different identity systems) — in his view, these represent 'the best realistic solution.'
Hans India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Reddit Mulls Eye-Scanning Tech to Combat AI Bots and Uphold Anonymity
In a bold move to clamp down on AI-generated bots, Reddit is reportedly in talks to adopt a futuristic identity verification system that scans users' irises. The technology, known as the Orb, is part of the World ID project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The idea is simple but ambitious: confirm that a user is human—without ever revealing their personal information. According to an exclusive report by Semafor, the social media platform is evaluating the use of World ID to curb the rise of sophisticated AI bots, which have grown harder to detect due to the surge in tools like ChatGPT. If implemented, Reddit users may soon be asked to prove they are real by looking into a shiny, spherical device that scans their eyes. World ID is the cornerstone of Altman's broader initiative, World (formerly Worldcoin). At the heart of the system is the Orb, a biometric scanner that captures a person's iris and face to generate a unique, encrypted digital identity. Once the scan is complete, the original images are deleted, and a secure code—stored locally on the user's phone—serves as proof of their humanity. As Reddit remains rooted in pseudonymity, with millions of users engaging in anonymous dialogue, the platform is treading carefully. Sources told Semafor that Reddit intends to offer 'many' other forms of user verification in addition to World ID, though specific alternatives have not been disclosed. If adopted, the World ID system could let users continue browsing and posting anonymously—but with an added layer of authenticity. The goal is to preserve the platform's community-driven culture while addressing growing concerns about misinformation, spam, and bot activity. The Orb itself has already made its way into various parts of the world. After debuting in six U.S. cities earlier this year, the technology recently arrived in the U.K., with devices now seen in shopping malls and high-street stores in London. Expansion to cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast, and Glasgow is expected soon. Tools for Humanity, the company behind the Orb, also plans to place self-service kiosks in select retail locations, much like ATMs. For users who opt in, there's a sweetener—those signing up for World ID receive a portion of the project's native cryptocurrency, Worldcoin (WLD), as a reward. However, this high-tech solution has not come without controversy. World ID has faced regulatory scrutiny across multiple countries. Germany, Argentina, and Kenya have launched investigations into its use, while Spain and Hong Kong have banned it altogether. In South Korea, the firm was recently fined over $800,000 for violating privacy laws. Still, Tools for Humanity asserts that user privacy is central to their mission. They claim no biometric data is stored and that all information is anonymised and encrypted. 'World ID is safer and more privacy-conscious than other systems, such as India's Aadhaar,' said project co-lead Alex Blania, referencing Aadhaar's history of data breaches. With over 1,500 Orb scanners already in operation and plans to roll out 12,000 more, Reddit's potential adoption of this controversial technology underscores a larger dilemma faced by online platforms today: how to preserve human integrity in a digital world increasingly shaped by AI.
India Today
23-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Reddit eyes Sam Altman's Orb scanner to verify humans and crack down on AI bots
Reddit may soon ask users to prove they're human – by scanning their eyes. According to an exclusive report by Semafor, the social media platform is in discussions to adopt World ID, a controversial digital identity system co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The goal? To fight the rising number of AI bots on Reddit, which have become harder to detect as tools like ChatGPT grow more ID is part of Altman's broader project, World, formerly known as Worldcoin. At the centre of the system is the Orb, a shiny, spherical device that scans a person's iris to create a unique, anonymous digital identity. This 'proof of humanness' can then be used across various apps and platforms – potentially including idea is to offer Reddit users a way to confirm they're real people without giving up personal information. Sources told Semafor that Reddit also plans to include "many" other verification options besides World ID, though details are unclear. If adopted, World ID could allow Reddit users to log in anonymously but with added credibility, keeping bots and fake accounts at bay. The platform, known for its pseudonymous culture and user-led communities, is facing increasing pressure to ensure authenticity while respecting eye-scanning Orb itself already arrived in the UK earlier this month, after launching in six US cities earlier this year. Orbs have now begun appearing in high street shops and malls in London. Rollouts in Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast and Glasgow are expected in the coming months, according to Bloomberg. The company behind the tech, Tools for Humanity, also plans to install self-service Orbs in select retail locations – much like standalone is how it works: you look into the Orb, which scans your iris and face. It then generates an encrypted code that becomes your World ID. The original images are immediately deleted, and the digital ID is stored locally on your phone. As an added incentive, users receive some of World's own cryptocurrency, Worldcoin (WLD), for signing World ID has drawn criticism globally over privacy concerns. Regulators in Germany, Argentina, and Kenya have opened investigations. Spain and Hong Kong have outright banned the technology, and South Korea recently fined the company over $800,000 for violating privacy for Humanity maintains that it does not store any biometric data, and that all iris scans are encrypted and anonymised. Ludwig has argued that World ID is safer and more privacy-conscious than other systems, such as India's Aadhaar, which has suffered multiple data breaches over the present, there are around 1,500 Orb scanners in use globally, with plans to distribute 12,000 more in the next year. As Reddit considers tapping into this controversial system to clean up its platform, it joins a growing list of companies struggling to answer one urgent question: how do we stay human in the age of AI?
