Key Takeaways
- Sam Altman’s rebranded crypto project, World, is expanding into six major U.S. cities, even as it faces bans across the globe.
- The project uses iris-scanning technology to verify users’ humanity, raising concerns among privacy advocates about the collection of biometric data.
- While some states have biometric data protections, others do not, leaving regulatory enforcement patchy.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has officially launched his controversial biometric and crypto project, formerly known as Worldcoin and now rebranded as World, in six major U.S. cities.
The launch follows bans in several countries, including Kenya, Spain, and Hong Kong, due to regulatory and privacy concerns.
U.S. World Expansion Underway
On April 30, Altman announced that World would establish “key innovation hubs” in five U.S. states.
These hubs will be located in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco.
At these locations, citizens can scan their irises using World’s distinctive devices, known as Orbs, to obtain a unique “proof of human” ID.
World describes the process as simple: users download the World App, “verify their humanity” via the Orb’s biometric technology, and unlock platform features. These features include:
- Anonymous human verification online, preserving privacy while confirming personhood
- Access to WLD tokens via a secure in-app wallet
- A growing ecosystem of Mini Apps focused on education, finance, and social connectivity
World’s technology is developed by Tools for Humanity, which has offices in San Francisco and Erlangen, Germany.
World’s Privacy and Legal Challenges
Despite its U.S. expansion, World continues to face global scrutiny over its use of sensitive biometric data.
On May 4, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) suspended World’s ID verification and Worldcoin (WLD) token operations.
Authorities cited “suspicious activity” and stated that the local entity, PT. Terang Bulan Abadi, was not registered as an Electronic System Operator and therefore lacked the necessary legal authorization to operate.
Tools for Humanity previously told CCN that it had voluntarily paused its services in Indonesia and is seeking clarification regarding regulatory compliance.
In Kenya, authorities blocked World signups and ordered the deletion of all collected biometric data within seven days.
A High Court ruling found that the company failed to meet legal standards for biometric data collection.
Last year, Hong Kong banned World after it was found to be violating the region’s data privacy laws.
Tools for Humanity claimed that authorities overlooked key privacy protections built into their verification process.
Legal Grey Area
Privacy experts have raised concerns over World’s biometric data collection that they believe could present long-term privacy risks.
In the U.S., the legal framework around biometric data varies by state.
Some states where World plans to operate, such as Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida, lack comprehensive biometric privacy laws altogether.
Texas has limited biometric protections but lacks a dedicated enforcement agency. This means any legal action would fall to the state attorney general, making enforcement less predictable.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
