Critics of the World project point out serious risks associated with iris-based identification. They call for greater transparency and decentralization, believing that the company’s approach contradicts these principles. Representatives from developing countries may not be aware of the threats related to the security of biometric data.
This is reported by Finway
The World project (formerly known as Worldcoin), founded by Sam Altman, co-founder of OpenAI, positions itself as a tool for financial inclusion through the verification of individual uniqueness via iris scanning. However, since its launch in July 2023, the project has raised a number of concerns regarding privacy, centralization, and potential threats to digital autonomy.
“Decentralization is not just a technical architecture. It is a philosophy that centers on user control, privacy, and self-sovereignty,” emphasized Shady El Damaty, co-founder of the Holonym Foundation.
According to critics, the use of a specialized device for scanning – the Orb – and centralized approaches to data processing contradict the stated principles of decentralization of the project. Despite the company utilizing technologies such as zero-knowledge proofs and multi-party computations, experts believe that key processes remain opaque to the public.
El Damaty also noted that the World model resembles OpenAI’s data collection:
“OpenAI started by collecting vast amounts of data without user consent, and now World is following the same path — only now in the biometric realm.”
Representatives of World have denied the accusations, stating that:
“We do not store personal data and do not use centralized infrastructure. Iris data is encrypted, sent directly to the user’s device, and immediately deleted from the Orb.”
However, according to critics, significant doubts remain. Among them are concerns that vulnerable populations, especially in developing countries, may not be aware of the risks and may easily agree to scanning. Several governments, including those of Germany, Kenya, Brazil, and Indonesia, have already expressed concerns about the security of biometric data.
Moreover, the issue of digital exclusion arises:
“If access to services depends on providing biometrics, it creates a digital hierarchy: some gain access, while others remain outside the system,” added El Damaty.
Despite the company’s assurances of adhering to principles of openness and self-governance, critics argue that there is currently no real user control. They believe that the future of decentralized identification systems should be based on open standards, distributed governance, and technologies that do not involve the collection of biometrics.
Co-founder of Privado ID, Evin McMullen, warned against ignoring the issue of identity verification in a world where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from humans.
“Without reliable verification systems, we risk facing an explosion of misinformation, fraud, and cyberattacks from invisible agents,” she stated.
It is worth noting that the Worldcoin team rebranded to World in October 2024, and in May 2025, the project secured $135 million in a private token sale.