• Home
  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
The Hack Post
  • Hacking News
    • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber Security
  • Technology
    • Internet
  • Entertainment
    • Gaming
  • Business
  • Science / Health
No Result
View All Result
The Hack Post
No Result
View All Result

Worldcoin’s Under Fire: Is It Really Safe?

Sofia Peterson by Sofia Peterson
September 22, 2023
Worldcoin's Under Fire Is It Really Safe?
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Since launching its beta testing phase last year, Worldcoin has been highly debated, with various stakeholders raising concerns over the platform’s security and privacy protocols. Despite all the backlash, the project officially launched on July 24, 2023.

So what is Worldcoin, and what should you know before getting involved?

According to it’s official website, Worldcoin is “an open-source protocol supported by a global community of developers, individuals, economists, and technologists committed to expanding participation in and access to the global economy.”

Founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the project aims to create a global identity system from iris scans. To sign up, users are required to get their irises scanned by devices called orbs in return for Worldcoin (WLD) tokens. These orbs collect biometric data, which will then be used to create a secure and anonymous identity system that can be used to access all essential services.

Privacy advocates have criticized WorldCoin and Sam Altman, arguing that the biometric data could be used to do a lot of harm if it fell into the wrong hands.

Centralization, Privacy invasion, and Identity theft

The Worldcoin iris scan identifies the uniqueness of every user by obtaining basic personal data about them. This authentication system is called “Proof-of-Personhood” (PoP). Even without going into further details, the general idea of giving up your biometric data to a centralized entity without knowledge of how it’ll use it is chilling.

Earlier this year, WorldCoin published a blog post explaining how it intended to maintain privacy. While failing to provide any meaningful explanations on how data would be handled, the post stated that collected data would be stored on the company’s servers and deleted once they had finished training their AI models to recognize irises and detect fraud. “During our field-testing phase, we are collecting and securely storing more data than we will upon its completion. We will delete all the biometric data we have collected during field testing once our algorithms are fully-trained.”

These and many other gaps in the Worldcoin privacy protocols have led to continued backlash. Edward Snowden was among the first to criticize the project in 2021. The NSA whistleblower tweeted in response to Sam Altman’s announcement of the project, saying, “Don’t catalogue eyeballs. Don’t use biometrics for anti-fraud. In fact, don’t use biometrics for anything. The human body is not a ticket-punch.”

In July this year, days after Worldcoin went live, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin voiced his concerns about the project’s PoP in a detailed blog post.

Buterin noted that iris scan data may reveal more information than intended. “At the very least, if someone else scans your iris, they can check it against the database to determine whether or not you have a World ID.”

He went on to add that “we have no way to verify that it (the Orb) was constructed correctly and does not have backdoors.” He argued that despite the software layer being fully decentralized, Worldcoin could still introduce a backdoor into the system, opening the possibility of creating multiple fake human identities.

Buterin also noted that in the event a user’s phone got hacked, their iris scan data could get exposed.

Earlier in May, Chinese crypto outlet BlockBeats tweeted  about the existence of a black market for iris scans. Crypto users in China, where Worldcoin is not approved, were buying iris scans online for $30 or less a pop to cash in the WLD rewards once the project went live.

In the same month, TechCrunch reported that malicious actors had installed malware on the devices of multiple Worldcoin Orb operators. This gave the actors access to sensitive user data. The media site also reported that the logins of several Orb operators were being sold on dark web marketplaces.

Governments React to WorldCoin

At least six countries, including Nigeria, Argentina, Germany, France, and Kenya, have halted all WorldCoin activities pending investigations.

On Aug. 21, the Kenyan government formed a 15-member parliamentary committee to investigate the project, three weeks after issuing a public suspension. The committee will submit its report to the House after 42 days.

Conclusion

The privacy and security risks associated with the WorldCoin iris scan cannot be ignored. Signing up should be done with caution to mitigate these dangers for nations and their citizens.

Sofia Peterson

Sofia Peterson

Sofia is a contributor at The Hack Post who loves to write about Technology. She also enjoys reading books and swims during her free time.

Next Post
The Benefits of Implementing a Robust Corporate Travel Program

The Benefits of Implementing a Robust Corporate Travel Program

Latest Articles

Home Meditation Mindful Moments and Modern Tech
news

Home Meditation: Mindful Moments and Modern Tech

May 17, 2025
Why Living in a Condo is Ideal for Families
news

Why Living in a Condo is Ideal for Families

May 12, 2025
Zen Your Condo Tips for a Tranquil Space
Business

Zen Your Condo: Tips for a Tranquil Space

May 8, 2025
4 Hobbies for Introverts
news

4 Hobbies for Introverts

May 3, 2025
5 Benefits of Living in a Condo for Professionals
news

5 Benefits of Living in a Condo for Professionals

April 22, 2025
Are German Proxies Legal? The Complete 2025 Guide
Technology

Are German Proxies Legal? The Complete 2025 Guide

April 16, 2025
5 Ideas for Your Condo Console Gaming Setup
news

5 Ideas for Your Condo Console Gaming Setup

April 11, 2025
5 Creative Ideas to Level Up Your Condo Gaming Room
news

5 Creative Ideas to Level Up Your Condo Gaming Room

March 30, 2025
6 Helpful Tips when Moving with Your Pet
news

6 Helpful Tips when Moving with Your Pet

March 19, 2025
Enhancing Security Measures for A Seamless Mobile Trading Experience
Technology

Enhancing Security Measures for A Seamless Mobile Trading Experience

March 19, 2025
5 Ways Condos Support Health-Conscious Living
Science / Health

5 Ways Condos Support Health-Conscious Living

March 8, 2025
The Future of Mobile Gaming 5G, Al, and Cloud Inclusion
Entertainment

The Future of Mobile Gaming: 5G, Al, and Cloud Inclusion

February 21, 2025
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

The Hack Post © 2019

No Result
View All Result
  • Hacking News
    • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber Security
  • Technology
    • Internet
  • Entertainment
    • Gaming
  • Business
  • Science / Health

The Hack Post © 2019