Yigit Taha OZTURK 
Imagine a device that scans your eyes and verifies your identity in the digital realm. While it may sound futuristic, this is the core idea behind Worldcoin, the ambitious biometric project led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
As the project gains momentum with major financial backing, concerns around privacy and regulation are just as swiftly rising.
Massive Investment: $135M To Scale Operations
Worldcoin has secured a massive $135 million funding round from top venture firms Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto. The funding will boost the deployment of iris-scanning devices and expand the digital ID infrastructure, especially across the United States, where the company plans to operate in six cities.
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According to the official announcement, more than 12.5 million individuals across 160 jurisdictions have already received a World ID, based on iris biometric data.
Rising Regulatory Pressures: Bans From Brazil and Indonesia
However, not all countries welcome the project. Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) banned Worldcoin’s services in January over ethical concerns tied to offering crypto rewards in exchange for biometric data. This ban was reaffirmed in March, with the company facing fines of 50,000 Brazilian reais (8,851$) per day if it continues operations.
In Indonesia, the Ministry of Communications and Digital (Komdigi) suspended Worldcoin’s license on May 4, citing violations tied to operating without registering as a licensed digital asset provider. An investigation has been launched into the company’s activities.
EU Watchdog Steps In: Data Must Be Deletable
Before these bans, the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection in Germany warned the company to comply with EU data protection laws, specifically requiring that users must have a clear option to delete their biometric data at any time.
Despite these hurdles, Altman’s vision continues to attract deep-pocketed investors, signaling that the digital identity space is set to be one of the next battlegrounds for tech, ethics, and global regulation.
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