Sam Altman-backed Worldcoin announces Ethereum layer-2 blockchain mid-2024 debut after Dencun upgrade
Sam Altman-backed Tools for Humanity, the creator of Worldcoin, recently announced its Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain debut around mid-2024. Although the project started in 2020, the team noted that they are confident to launch with the new Dencun upgrade.
This comes a month after Worldcoin announced it would stop storing users’ personal data and shift to “Personal Custody.”
Worldcoin’s proof-of-humanity approach through iris scanning has been met with pushback from different governments regarding the safety of its practices. Here are some examples:
- March 6, 2024 — Spain’s data protection regulator ordered Worldcoin to stop collecting personal information in the country with a 72-hour deadline.
- July 26, 2023 — UK’s data regulator said they will investigate Worldcoin.
- August 1, 2023 — Germany’s privacy watchdog was revealed to have been investigating Worldcoin since Nov 2022 for “sensitive data collection at a very large scale.”
- Oct 2, 2023 — Kenya investigates Worldcoin, accusing it of espionage and being a threat to the country.
- Dec 31, 2023 — Worldcoin ceased operations in India, Brazil, and France.
- Jan 31, 2024 — Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner’s Office investigates six Worldcoin shops over data privacy risks and potential Privacy Ordinance violations.
- March 4, 2024 — South Korea probes Worldcoin for personal data collection, including Iris scans.
As of April 18, 2024, Worldcoin already has over 5mn World ID sign-ups.
A previous Telo News poll which received 13,544 votes found that 61% of Telo News subscribers voted that they wouldn’t sign up for Worldcoin and have their eyes scanned.
Among 11 languages Telo News caters to, Farsi subscribers were the most favorable, with 38% voting “yes”. Portugese subscribers were the most opposed, with 78% of them voting “no.”
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