Worldcoin Foundation increased access to proof of humanity technology in Europe by launching World ID orb verifications in Austria. For those unaware, this technology allows individuals to prove their humanity through iris scans, enabling them to join the Worldcoin network. Orbs located at various points in Vienna are open to everyone over 18, and so far, 6.3 million people have verified their World ID.
Regulation Issues and Worldcoin’s Expansion Strategy
Worldcoin is continuing its expansion in Germany after Austria. However, the project has faced some regulatory hurdles across Europe. In Spain, the ban on Worldcoin was extended last month until the GDPR audit is completed. Similarly, Portugal temporarily halted biometric data collection in March. Many governments believe Worldcoin raises concerns about personal data protection.
According to the Worldcoin Foundation, a survey in Spain found that 82% of World ID holders believe such technologies are important for distinguishing between humans and bots. In Portugal, 77% of participants felt that Worldcoin could positively impact digital interactions. Similar findings were recorded in the Latin America market.
Measures Taken on Data Privacy
Developed by Tools for Humanity and supported by Worldcoin, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the project has taken various measures in recent months to ease data privacy advocates. The “Personal Ownership” initiative launched in March banned the storage and encryption of biometric data for new participants. Additionally, it was noted that previously registered individuals could request the deletion of numerical codes generated from their scanned irises.
Moreover, the Worldcoin Foundation released a developer preview of the Layer 2 network World Chain earlier this month, allowing developers to build, test, and provide feedback on the network. World Chain will be secured by Ethereum and will be part of the Layer 2 Blockchains network built using OP Stack.
Worldcoin’s main network asset, WLD coin, is trading at $2.21 at the time of writing, with a 3.78% drop in the last 24 hours. The future of Worldcoin and WLD, which are attracting attention with global expansion and technological developments, seems to continue to be shaped by solutions to regulatory challenges and data privacy concerns.
