Worldcoin, the digital identity and cryptocurrency project founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is implementing new features to enhance personal data protection and improve age verification. On April 9, Worldcoin announced two updates: the ability for World ID holders to unverify their IDs through permanent iris code deletion and the introduction of in-person age verification checks.
World IDs serve as digital passports that confirm an individual’s humanness using orbs, devices that scan users’ eyeballs to verify their authenticity. Users can now choose to unverify their World IDs, which involves permanently deleting their iris code, a unique numeric representation of their iris texture. This code ensures that individuals can only have one verified World ID. Once the deletion is requested, the World ID becomes invalid. To prevent fraud, a six-month “cool-off” period is required before re-verification is allowed.
During the cool-off period, the iris code is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. Worldcoin developed this unverify option in consultation with third-party privacy and security experts, including the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA), which serves as Worldcoin’s lead supervisory authority in the European Union.
The second update introduced by Worldcoin is in-person age verification checks. These checks are implemented to ensure that the platform is accessible only to individuals above the age of 18. Before World ID verification, an on-site age verification check is conducted at all orb locations by third-party personnel.
Worldcoin has always required individuals to be at least 18 years old to obtain a World ID. The platform has faced mixed reactions from the community, with concerns raised about its centralization, privacy, and security. Additionally, some governments have expressed skepticism about Worldcoin’s security and privacy measures. BayLDA, Worldcoin’s supervisor in the European Union, initiated an investigation into the project due to privacy concerns before its official launch.
In late 2023, Worldcoin temporarily suspended the offline orb verification function for users in India and plans to reinstate the service later in 2024. Furthermore, the platform was banned in Kenya in August 2023, with the government halting all local activity associated with it, including biometric identification. Worldcoin has been working with the Kenyan government to resume operations.
As of March 2024, Worldcoin declared that it operates lawfully in all locations where it is available and fully complies with relevant laws and regulations.