Artificial intelligence is progressing at a rapid pace, making the distinction between humans and machines increasingly difficult. In response to this evolution, Worldcoin, now rebranded as World, aims to establish a universal proof of humanity through a biometric identification system based on iris recognition. The company has just announced that it has surpassed the milestone of 10 million verified users, a benchmark that signifies its massive adoption and fuels growing controversy. Indeed, the project relies on a network of orbs tasked with scanning the users' ocular data to assign them an unforgeable digital identity. According to its creators, this technology would secure digital interactions and ensure that only genuine humans access online services. Nevertheless, several governments and data protection authorities are concerned about the potential pitfalls of this model. Between technological promise and regulatory resistance, Worldcoin is part of a debate on digital identity and personal data governance. Its success or failure could shape the future of online authentication in a world where AI challenges the foundations of digital trust.
