Sam Altman's controversial biometric identification project is finding unexpected allies in corporate America, even as governments worldwide continue to reject and investigate the technology.
On April 17, World announced strategic partnerships with three major US companies: Tinder, Zoom, and DocuSign. These platforms will integrate World's digital identification system to verify users and combat deepfakes, scams, and fraudulent activity.
What strikes me about this development is the stark contrast between American corporate enthusiasm and global regulatory resistance. The World project, launched by Tools for Humanity—a startup co-founded by Altman—scans people's irises using spherical biometric devices called Orbs to assign users a "proof of humanity."
Global Regulatory Backlash Intensifies
The company's expansion has faced significant obstacles across multiple continents. In 2023, World installed Orbs in cities worldwide, often offering $50 in cryptocurrency as a sign-up bonus to encourage iris scans.
This cash-for-data approach sparked immediate controversy. Several governments in Asia and Africa have completely halted World's operations due to concerns about biometric data collection and privacy law violations.
Parts of Europe have gone further, banning the technology outright and demanding the deletion of collected data. Latin American countries have paused sign-ups while conducting investigations.
Surveillance whistleblower Edward Snowden has criticized World for "cataloguing eyeballs."
Troubling Origins and Expansion
The project's history reveals concerning patterns that African regulators have rightfully questioned. In April 2022, an MIT Technology Review investigation exposed World's unethical practices when onboarding test users across Africa and Asia.
The investigation revealed deceptive marketing practices and showed that World was collecting personal data beyond iris scans—including heartbeat, breathing, and other vital signs—without obtaining meaningful informed consent from African users.
US Market Remains Open
Despite global resistance, World continues expanding in the United States. By April 2025, the company had established 7,000 Orbs across six US cities, taking advantage of less strict biometric data regulations compared to the European Union.
The company, originally called Worldcoin until October 2024, was conceived by co-founders Alex Blania and Sam Altman in October 2021. They initially announced plans to produce more than 50,000 Orbs per year, with each device capable of scanning around 700 people weekly.
I find it telling that World has been actively courting favor by releasing studies claiming citizen support in Portugal, Spain, and South Korea. On April 16, the company even published a blueprint for how businesses can increase revenue using its digital ID system.
The African Perspective
From an African tech perspective, this story highlights a familiar pattern: Western tech companies testing controversial technologies in developing markets before scaling to wealthier regions. Our security coverage has consistently emphasized the importance of robust data protection frameworks.
What concerns me most is how World marketed itself across African cities with cryptocurrency incentives, targeting populations that might be more financially vulnerable to such offers.
While US companies embrace World ID as a verification tool, African governments' cautious approach demonstrates mature regulatory thinking about biometric data sovereignty. The contrast could not be more striking—and instructive for other regions considering similar partnerships.