Sam Altman's 'Worldcoin' Faces Investigations in Multiple Countries

'ChatGPT father' Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, developed the iris recognition-based cryptocurrency 'Worldcoin,' which is now facing investigations in various countries. Since its launch in July last year, it has reportedly collected iris data from over 6 million people, sparking controversy over biometric data collection.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 18th (local time) in an article titled "Altman's Worldcoin is fighting governments beyond your eyes." According to the report, more than 12 countries or regions have either suspended Worldcoin's operations or launched related investigations so far.

Spain and Portugal have already halted Worldcoin operations. In Hong Kong, a search and seizure was conducted. Argentina imposed fines, and Kenya initiated a criminal investigation. The Bavarian authorities in Germany have led the European investigation into Worldcoin and plan to release results as early as next month. In South Korea, the Personal Information Protection Commission began an investigation in March. WSJ noted, "Worldcoin's operations have been suspended or are under investigation in more than 12 jurisdictions," highlighting that "the issue concerns personal data processing."

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Worldcoin, developed by CEO Altman, was launched in July last year. Using a basketball-sized recognition device called the 'Orb,' it scans each individual's iris to digitize the data. Users then receive a kind of digital ID called 'World ID' to obtain Worldcoin. Since its launch, Worldcoin is reported to have collected iris data from over 6 million people across about 40 countries.

However, concerns have grown over how such indiscriminately collected biometric data might be used, prompting delayed responses from various countries. Critics point out that a kind of global biometric database could be established without effective regulation. Particularly, criticism has intensified as a significant portion of the collected personal biometric information comes from developing countries such as Kenya and Nigeria. Worldcoin has not launched its service in the United States, where cryptocurrency regulations are strict.

Worldcoin emphasizes that it neither uses nor sells the collected data. Damian Kieran, the project's Chief Privacy Officer, explained, "We are cooperating with regulatory agencies to address concerns. We have built technology to protect personal information. We do not collect data for use or sale. Since we do not know whose data it is, we cannot sell it."

Meanwhile, the price of Worldcoin, which was in the $11 range on March 9, is currently trading around $1.5.