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The Worldcoin project, led by Sam Altman, scanned the irises of 115 Brazilians in just one month. Promising to combat fraud and ensure digital privacy, the initiative divides opinions and raises important ethical questions about the use of biometric data.
Few modern technologies have generated as much debate as the fingerprint scanning system. iris promoted by World, a project co-created by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.
The breakthrough arrived in Brazil with bold promises, but also fraught with doubts and controversies that continue to intrigue experts and the general public.
With more than 115 thousand Brazilians already registered in less than a month, the numbers are impressive, but what is really behind this technology?
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Since November 2024, World has been operating in Brazil with the aim of offering a digital passport innovative, which promises to differentiate humans from robots and combat online fraud. However, while the promise sounds futuristic, the risks and ethical implications of collecting biometric data raise important questions.
What is the World project?
World uses iris scanning technology to create a unique digital identifier. This project has three main pillars:
- World ID: a digital passport that transforms the iris record into a unique numerical sequence;
- Worldcoin Token (WLD): a cryptocurrency distributed as a reward to subscribers;
- World App: an application that allows you to carry out transactions using cryptocurrency.
To participate, users must go through a simple process:
- Download the World App;
- Schedule an appointment at one of the verification locations;
- Perform iris scanning using the Orb camera.
According to the company, after capture, the image is encrypted and deleted, leaving only the numerical code associated with the user. This technology promises to be more secure than traditional methods, such as facial recognition, and aims to prevent digital fraud and guarantee the authenticity of users on online platforms.
The scope in Brazil
Since the start of operations on November 13, 2024, more than 115 thousand Brazilians have already had their irises scanned. In addition, about 519 thousand people have an account on the World App application, according to data provided by the company itself to the portal G1.
Scans are performed in 20 service points in the city of São Paulo, such as Shopping Boulevard Tatuapé, located in the East Zone.
According to the company, the service is free of charge, and participants receive 25 Worldcoin tokens, equivalent to approximately R$470, as an incentive.
Despite its rapid adoption, the project was subject to inspection by the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD). The institution began investigations into the processing of personal data even before the official launch in the country.
Controversy and criticism
Privacy and digital rights experts have expressed concerns about the initiative, with a lack of transparency about what data is collected and how it is used being a critical issue.
Rafael Zanatta, director of Data Privacy Brazil, emphasized the need for a Civil Advisory Board to ensure that privacy rights are respected. He stated:
“It is important that the company is accountable to society in a democratic way, going beyond offering technologies to differentiate robots from humans.”
Another point raised by critics is that, even with the exclusion of iris images, the numerical identifier generated from them is sensitive biometric data. Nina da Hora, from the Instituto da Hora, warned about the risks of reusing this system for commercial purposes, raising ethical questions:
“The claim that they need to invade people’s privacy to protect them is extremely sensitive.”
Regulation and security
Before the official launch in Brazil, the ANPD requested additional explanations from the company about its data collection and storage practices.
In response, World stated that it uses an advanced encryption system called Anonymized Multi-party Computation (AMPC), which breaks down data into parts that cannot be directly linked to users.
Additionally, World highlighted that the data is stored on “computing nodes” operated by universities and trusted partners.
The company reinforced its commitment to data security and anonymization, stating that it follows all regulations in the countries where it operates.
Global impact
The World project is not limited to Brazil. The initiative already operates in United States, Mexico and Germany, but temporarily paused activities in Spain and Portugal.
The main goal is to implement the technology globally, creating a universal authentication system.
Potential uses include replacing tools like Captcha, which is widely used to identify humans on websites. According to the company, artificial intelligence is already capable of bypassing this verification, making systems like World ID a more robust solution.
Furthermore, the company believes that its technology can contribute to “global democratic processes” and even pave the way for the implementation of a universal basic income, distributed through cryptocurrency.
The Future of Privacy
Although World defends its system as safe and innovator, ethical and regulatory challenges remain. The collection of biometric data on a large scale raises questions about privacy protection, especially in countries with legislation still developing in this area.
The Brazilian case is emblematic and can serve as an example for other countries. As the project advances, it will be crucial to balance technological innovation with the fundamental rights of citizens.
