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The World project, formerly known as Worldcoin and backed by Sam Altman, has received an order from the Bavarian State Data Protection Supervision Office (BayLDA) to delete biometric data obtained through iris scans.
This innovative project uses spherical devices to scan people’s eyes, verifying that they are human and granting them a digital identification (World ID), accompanied by cryptocurrencies in the form of WLD tokens.
Background and regulatory conflict
Since its inception, World has faced increasing scrutiny from regulators in Europe, including investigations in countries such as Spain, Portugal and now Germany. In this case, the BayLDA determined that World’s collection and storage of biometric data lacked a sufficient legal basis under the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
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The decision requires the project to delete this data within one month after the order comes into force, in addition to implementing additional measures to ensure the explicit consent of users in future collections.
Adaptation efforts by World
Faced with accusations from regulators, World claimed to have changed its processes in 2024. Among the notable actions, the project stopped storing biometric data such as iris codes and voluntarily deleted previous records to align with privacy requirements. Additionally, it has appealed the BayLDA’s decision as it seeks to clarify pending legal issues.
World has also launched initiatives such as “Personal Custody”, which removes the option of storing biometric data during registration for a World ID, in a bid to “exceed GDPR requirements” and strengthen its transparency with users.
Implications for privacy in the age of AI
The Bavarian authority’s resolution highlights important challenges regarding the handling of personal data in massive digital projects. World suggests that, in the context of a future dominated by agents driven by artificial intelligence, it is essential to distinguish humans from automatisms.
However, this case exposes the tensions between technological innovation and compliance with strict privacy regulations.
The decision also underlines the urgent need to clarify legal definitions, such as those of “anonymisation”, within the European Union to safeguard citizens’ rights in a constantly evolving digital landscape.
Impact on the ecosystem
With more than 200 million potential users in countries like Brazil and continued operation in other markets, World seeks to strengthen its vision of universal digital identities, but strong regulatory oversight could redefine the strategies of technological projects that handle sensitive data.
What is clear is that this case marks a precedent in the relationship between privacy and technology in the era of artificial intelligence.
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