The Worldcoin project led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman aims to strengthen connections with Malaysian officials to address concerns about data privacy. Key figures like Sam Altman and Alex Blania met with leaders in Malaysia, including the country's Prime Minister, to improve government relations. This effort comes as Worldcoin faces scrutiny over its data protection practices.

Responding to privacy worries

Criticism has been directed at the "proof-of-personhood" cryptocurrency project for its data gathering methods. Temporary bans in Spain and Portugal were enforced last month, pausing Worldcoin's data collection operations. The project offers WLD tokens to users in exchange for iris scans to build their personal World ID, raising worries among privacy advocates.

Government scrutiny and supervision

Worldcoin's significant visibility, along with Sam Altman's involvement, has attracted considerable government interest. Various countries such as Germany, France, Argentina, Kenya, and South Korea have launched inquiries into the project's data collection practices. Despite challenges, high-ranking government officials are maintaining engagement with Worldcoin amidst rising concerns about AI risks such as deepfakes.

Enhancing government ties

To address regulatory issues, Worldcoin's parent company, Tools for Humanity, appointed Trevor Traina, former U.S. ambassador to Austria, as Head of Global Affairs. Traina highlighted the importance of meeting policymakers' expectations regarding data privacy and security.

Implementation of new privacy measures

To comply with regulations, Worldcoin introduced "Personal Custody," ending the storage of biometric data for new registrations. Users can now request the deletion of their iris codes and stricter age verification processes have been put in place to prevent minors from signing up. These measures were developed with input from privacy specialists and data protection authorities. Despite obstacles, Worldcoin has issued over five million World IDs, based on project data.