Brazil Halts Worldcoin's Iris Scans Over Data Privacy Concerns
Brazil's data protection authority (ANPD) has ordered Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, to cease its practice of paying Brazilians for iris scans. This suspension, effective Saturday, is part of an ongoing investigation initiated in November.
Worldcoin's project aims to create a global digital identity system using iris scans. Participants receive digital IDs and cryptocurrency in exchange for their biometric data. The ANPD expressed concerns about potential coercion due to the financial incentive, potentially pressuring individuals to compromise their privacy. The authority also requested Worldcoin to clarify on its website which entity manages the collected data.
ANPD Investigates Worldcoin's Data Collection Practices
Worldcoin maintains that its operations comply with Brazilian law. The company is currently cooperating with the ANPD to ensure continued access to the World network for Brazilian users. This isn't the first time Worldcoin has faced scrutiny; similar issues have arisen in Spain and Portugal. The company claims recent reports and social media discussions contain inaccuracies, leading to misinformation presented to the ANPD.
Half a Million Iris Scans Collected in Brazil
Worldcoin's project gained significant traction in São Paulo, Brazil's largest city. The initiative offers a unique approach to digital identification, using iris scans as a high-tech "digital fingerprint" to distinguish humans from AI. Before the ANPD's suspension, approximately 500,000 participants in São Paulo had provided their iris scans, receiving around BRL 600 ($101) in cryptocurrency. News of the project spread rapidly through word-of-mouth and social media platforms like TikTok, with many posts referring to the process as "selling an iris photo." The participant count had grown significantly since the project's restart in São Paulo in early November 2023, when there were 115,000 participants. For related news on digital identity and AI, see Enhanced Celia AI Assistant Coming Soon from Huawei. You can also learn more about other tech developments, such as Samsung S25's Gemini AI integration and Google's redesign of the Gemini interface on Android.