All news is rigorously fact-checked and reviewed by leading blockchain experts and seasoned industry insiders.
- Thailand orders World to delete 1.2 million iris scans after ruling it violated national data protection laws.
- World halts operations in Thailand, and concerns rise about consent, privacy, and biometric data governance.
Thailand has taken action against World, a biometric identity project backed by Sam Altman. Around 1.2 million iris scans must be deleted, and all World operations in Thailand must be halted immediately. From the regulator’s perspective, biometric data should not be treated carelessly, especially with the lure of digital tokens.
This decision was made after Thailand’s data protection authority found that the iris-scanning collection process did not meet the requirements for proper consent. When someone provides biometric data in the lure of crypto rewards, the regulator considers that consent is susceptible to bias.
Furthermore, the biometric category is considered too sensitive to be collected without clear regulations. Furthermore, scanning devices previously deployed at various points have also been withdrawn from the list of active locations, bringing World’s operations to a virtual standstill in the country.
World’s local partners have also warned that users could suffer potential losses as a result of this decision. They believe that many citizens who have already participated in crypto rewards programs are now confused about how to access their digital identities. Nevertheless, the regulator continues to emphasize that data protection must be a priority, regardless of the promised economic scheme.
Growing Innovations Meet a Sudden Regulatory Roadblock
Looking at past records, the project under Sam Altman’s umbrella has actually been moving quite aggressively. In early November, Mythical Games partnered with World to implement “proof-of-human” verification to mitigate the influence of bots in the game economy.
From this partnership emerged Mythos Chain, a Layer-3 platform built on World Chain, which has attracted attention for its distinct approach from more traditional platforms. Last September, we reported that Worldcoin had enabled cross-chain WLD transfers using Chainlink CCIP. This feature provides developers with more secure interoperability options and broadens the appeal of Sam Altman’s ecosystem.
However, Thailand’s decision now complicates the project’s progress, as its reputation for biometric data management is once again a hot topic. One wrong move could prompt other countries to consider similar measures. As of press time, WLD is changing hands at about $0.6493, up 2.43% over the last 24 hours, with $42.10 million in daily trading volume.
No coins selected
