Worldcoin’s Global ID Ambitions Face Regulatory Pushback

Sam Altman’s Worldcoin project, which promised a universal digital identity system in exchange for iris scans and cryptocurrency rewards, is encountering mounting resistance from regulators worldwide. The initiative’s core premise—using biometric data to create a ’proof of personhood’ in an AI-dominated digital landscape—initially drew crowds in developing nations, but now faces scrutiny over privacy concerns.

The project’s vision of bridging economic divides through equal access to digital services clashes with growing apprehensions about data collection practices. Early enthusiasm, marked by viral images of queues in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, has given way to skepticism as governments question the trade-off between technological innovation and personal privacy.