Thai data regulator orders World to stop iris-scanning service

PDPC orders TIDC Worldverse to halt iris scanning in Thailand.

Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) has ordered TIDC Worldverse to suspend its iris-scanning service, Bangkok Post reports.

The firm acts on behalf of Tools For Humanity Thailand, the local arm of Tools For Humanity, which develops the World project.

At a press conference held with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and other government bodies, the regulator instructed the service to delete data collected from 1.2 million people to prevent its possible transfer abroad.

PDPC secretary-general Surafong Plengham said two orders were issued under the Personal Data Protection Act. According to an expert panel’s ruling, collecting sensitive biometric information in exchange for cryptocurrency does not comply with the law.

Authorities found instances where people’s irises were scanned and Worldcoin’s WLD tokens were issued, which were then transferred to other individuals. The Department of Special Investigation will conduct further analysis.

Tools For Humanity Thailand said it had suspended identity verification services in line with the PDPC’s order. It added that it had complied with local laws and had provided regulators with all necessary information.

The World project scans a person’s iris using a device called the Orb. Users who pass such verification receive a unique ID and WLD tokens as a reward.

The local unit said the suspension would harm millions of Thais who used the technology to protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.

The platform had 102 Orb locations in Thailand—one of the largest numbers in Asia.

Decision to be challenged

M Vision Plc’s chief executive, Opas Cherdpunt, intends to challenge the Committee’s decision in court. He is seeking 500 affected people to file a petition with the Central Administrative Court.

M Vision Plc is one of World’s partners. According to Cherdpunt, people who agreed to use World’s services in exchange for WLD tokens will incur losses because of the PDPC.

WLD trading permitted

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) instructed digital-asset service providers offering WLD tokens to issue clear warnings to clients.

Crypto exchange Bitazza has complied with the authorities’ requirements. In a letter seen by ForkLog, it notes the suspension of World’s biometric data collection and the deletion of 1.2 million records.

“Since legal questions concerning the issuer of the digital asset Worldcoin (WLD) were raised at the press conference, and since this information may affect the rights and interests of users, Bitazza recommends that all users exercise caution when trading or holding WLD tokens,” the exchange’s notice says.

SEC deputy secretary-general Jomkwan Kongsakul stressed that WLD tokens were actively traded worldwide before iris scanning began in Thailand, so the PDPC’s order applies only to that activity and does not extend to trading.

Crypto exchanges may continue to offer trading and conversion services for WLD, but platforms must clearly disclose risks and display warning notices.

Deposits, withdrawals and trading of WLD tokens on Bitazza remain available as usual.

Widespread bans

At least 11 countries have raised concerns or imposed bans on World’s activities since the project’s launch. They include Germany, Spain, South Korea, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Kenya and Brazil.

Authorities’ objections are largely standard—collecting biometric data poses a high risk to human rights.

In Thailand, the project also stirred controversy over possible links to a Chinese fraud network operating out of Cambodia.

A recent investigation by Whale Hunting found that Tools for Humanity “was inadvertently drawn into a criminal money-laundering network” alongside the KuCoin exchange. The fraudsters allegedly used the partnership with Sam Altman to legitimise their activities in Thailand and to gain a veneer of credibility.

In May, World announced the launch of Orbs in the United States.