Thai regulators have raided a World iris-scanning site, marking the latest challenge for Sam Altman's digital identity project. The operation was a collaborative effort between Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). The target was a location allegedly providing "WLD exchange services".
The authorities suspect that the WLD exchange service provider was operating without the required license, potentially violating local digital asset regulations. Suspects involved in these activities have been apprehended, and further legal proceedings are anticipated. The SEC and CCIB are concerned about potential violations of digital asset regulations.
World, previously known as Worldcoin, distributes its native cryptocurrency, WLD, to individuals who verify their identity through iris scans at designated "orb" locations. There are reportedly 102 such locations across Thailand. The project, co-founded by Sam Altman, aims to create a global identity and financial network. World's stated mission is to provide a secure and anonymous method for online human authentication, utilizing what it calls World ID. This digital ID is intended to allow users to prove they are real humans, not bots.
Tools of Humanity, the developer behind World, has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the raid. World maintains that it only distributes WLD tokens in regions where the legal framework permits such activities. The platform states that eligibility for receiving WLD tokens is subject to geographical, age, and other criteria and disclaims responsibility for WLD token availability on third-party exchanges.
This raid adds to the growing regulatory scrutiny surrounding World's biometric data collection practices. The project has faced criticism and investigations in multiple countries over privacy concerns. Concerns have been raised regarding how the company collects and processes biometric data.
Several countries have taken action against Worldcoin. Kenya suspended the project in August 2023 due to data safety concerns, with lawmakers alleging espionage. A High Court judge in Kenya ordered the deletion of all data collected in the country. Worldcoin has also ceased biometric data collection in Brazil, France, and India.
In December 2024, the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA) ordered World to delete stored iris data collected in Germany, citing concerns over data acquisition and retention. World temporarily paused iris-scanning operations in Germany, citing "station upgrades," while facing regulatory questions. Spain's data protection agency ordered Worldcoin to cease operations in the country due to privacy concerns. China has cautioned against Worldcoin's iris-scanning, citing potential threats to personal privacy and national security.
World has faced scrutiny regarding security measures for handling biometric data. There are concerns that the collected iris data could be leaked, potentially leading to identity theft, deepfakes, or money laundering through digital assets. Sam Altman's Worldcoin has also been scrutinized for allegedly partnering with a $1.5 billion criminal network in Thailand.
Despite the regulatory challenges, World has achieved significant milestones. As of September 2025, the platform had approximately 33 million World App users, with 15 million verified. The project, originally called Worldcoin, was rebranded as World in 2024 and has partnerships with the governments of Taiwan and Malaysia concerning digital identity verification.
