The Brazilian government has recently banned the controversial service known as 'World' and its parent company, Tools for Humanity, from operating within its borders. The decisive action came amidst growing concerns about the collection of private biometric data, specifically iris scans, which the service uses to create a global verification platform. This move follows similar suspensions in other countries, including Kenya, where the program initially attracted thousands of participants with the lure of monetary rewards.
World's operations have been deemed a significant privacy concern by multiple governments. The service collects iris scans from individuals and offers compensation through its cryptocurrency, Worldcoin, in exchange for their biometric data. Brazil's decision to halt the project was primarily driven by fears that it may impede a person's "free expression of will" and constitutes a massive breach of privacy among its citizens.
The initiative has faced backlash since it was unveiled years ago. Brazil is not the only country to take a stand against the World project. Earlier, Spain and Portugal also prohibited the service due to its methodology of trading iris scans for cryptocurrency. These bans reflect a growing unease about the implications of such data collection practices on individual privacy and autonomy.
In Kenya, one of the first countries to suspend the service, many had joined the program in exchange for financial incentives. However, the initiative quickly turned into what some governments labeled a "privacy nightmare." Despite initial enthusiasm, concerns about how the biometric data might be used or shared have led to heightened scrutiny and eventual prohibitions.
World's promise of a digital ID in return for cryptocurrency has not been enough to assuage fears about privacy violations. The Brazilian government, like others, is wary of allowing a platform that could potentially misuse sensitive biometric information. By halting World's operations, Brazil aims to safeguard its citizens' personal data from what it considers intrusive practices.
