China’s Ministry of State Security has expressed concerns over the practice of collecting biometric data for cryptocurrency, highlighting potential threats to personal privacy and national security.
Warning About Data Collection
On Wednesday, the Ministry of State Security (MSS) issued a warning on its official WeChat account, pointing to a global operation where users were offered crypto tokens in exchange for scanning their irises. The agency noted that the biometric data was later transferred overseas, raising alarms about potential misuse.
Controversy Surrounding Worldcoin
The ministry did not name the company, but its description closely aligns with Worldcoin, the controversial crypto project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Worldcoin, recently rebranded as 'World', has come under regulatory scrutiny in multiple countries for its use of biometric data. The MSS warned that 'some foreign companies use the lure of digital currency to collect and export sensitive biometric data on a large scale.'
Consequences and Project's Future
So far, over 12.5 million people across more than 160 jurisdictions have received a World ID, a digital credential tied to their biometric data. The project aims to provide 'proof of personhood' in an increasingly AI-saturated internet. However, the path forward is fraught with difficulties, as the project faces concerns regarding privacy, data storage, and lack of informed consent.
China's warning highlights the growing concerns over the use of biometric data and its potential vulnerabilities to foreign intelligence services, raising questions about the future of projects like Worldcoin.
