Vitalik Buterin Praises Worldcoin’s Commitment to Addressing Privacy Concerns

Ethereum Co-founder Vitalik Buterin on Worldcoin’s Privacy Measures

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently praised Worldcoin’s efforts to protect user data privacy through innovative methods. Responding to a social media post, Buterin acknowledged the project co-founded by OpenAI’s Sam Altman for its commitment to safeguarding personal information using cryptography.

Buterin highlighted that Worldcoin has been responsive to privacy concerns and has continuously worked on minimizing the collection of data. He emphasized the significance of modern cryptography in achieving this goal.

Vitalik Buterin’s Concerns and Critiques

In a previous statement from October 2023, Buterin expressed reservations about Worldcoin’s approach, particularly its reliance on iris scanning for verifying human identity. He raised issues regarding the platform’s “digital passport” system, which aims to distinguish between humans and artificial intelligence.

While recognizing the potential benefits of such a system in addressing spam and power concentration challenges, Buterin cautioned against the risks associated with extensive data gathering through iris scans. He warned about the implications of not adequately addressing proof of personhood, as it could make decentralized governance vulnerable to manipulation by wealthy entities, including hostile governments.

Regulatory Actions Against Worldcoin

Recent regulatory actions against Worldcoin’s biometric data practices have been observed globally. In Portugal, the National Data Protection Commission imposed a 90-day suspension on Worldcoin due to concerns over unauthorized collection of iris and facial scans, especially from minors. A similar ban was enforced in Spain by the Data Protection Agency, citing consent-related issues.

Legal challenges by Worldcoin in response to these bans were unsuccessful, indicating a strict stance by regulatory bodies on data privacy and consent. Similar regulatory scrutiny has been witnessed in jurisdictions like Hong Kong and Kenya, where investigations and restrictions have been imposed on Worldcoin’s operations.