Worldcoin to bolster security to tackle the biometric black market

Users in China without access to the Worldcoin app by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are buying biometric data from third parties in African countries to obtain signup bonuses.

Worldcoin is going viral especially in mainland of China，even though the region can’t register the app

crypto users are finding a new way：buying «iris»（$30 or cheaper）to register the worldcoin app and get the reward($20）. These iris are from Cambodia village、Africa… pic.twitter.com/BQlGCpob1W

— BlockBeats｜We’re hiring! (@BlockBeatsAsia) May 18, 2023

According to local media, iris scans cost $30 for residents of the PRC.

Representatives of Worldcoin acknowledged the existence of the problem, but noted that the incident is “limited to a few hundred cases”.

The company pledged to take the necessary steps to combat the biometric black market. These include “adjustments to the initial personal registration process, as well as the introduction of dynamic and static QR codes”.

“Despite precautions, it is important to recognise that they do not fully protect against collusion or other attempts to bypass the principle ‘one person — one proof’. To solve these tasks, innovative ideas in code design and in defining social relationships will be required,” added the startup representatives.

The project’s flagship product is World ID protocol, based on zero-knowledge proofs. The technology enables verification using biometric data without sacrificing anonymity.

Earlier, Altman proposed a reward for iris scanning.

In May, the company launched its own crypto wallet World App, which offers commission-free transfers for verified users. The app supports stablecoins USDC and DAI, as well as Ethereum (ETH), Worldcoin (WDC) and wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC).

In the same month, it emerged that Altman began “preliminary talks” about a $100 million investment in the startup.