Sam Altman’s Worldcoin debuts ID verification services in Austria

The Worldcoin Foundation has introduced its ID verification technology in Austria, marking its latest expansion within the European Union.

The Worldcoin Foundation is expanding its World ID “orb” verifications to Austria in its continuing efforts to provide services across Europe. Per a July 31 announcement, Worldcoin’s orbs will now be accessible at several locations throughout Vienna for individuals aged 18 and older.

The foundation notes that it’s already offering ID verification services known as “proof of personhood” in Germany, implying that expansion to Austria reflects “continued interest and growth in other countries around the world.”

Worldcoin’s proof of personhood works by using a device — its “orb” — to scan people’s irises, creating a unique biometric identifier to ensure that each participant is a distinct human being. In exchange for having their irises scanned, people receive a small amount of Worldcoin’s native token Wordlcoin (WLD), in an approach designed to distribute the tokens fairly.

Despite its international expansion efforts, Worldcoin has faced pushback in several regions over data privacy concerns. In late May, Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data ruled that Worldcoin contravened the city’s personal data ordinance, posing risks to privacy associated with the way the project handles biometric data.

In a statement to crypto.news, the project expressed disappointment, asserting that the organization operates lawfully and complies fully with all relevant data privacy laws. Similarly, Portugal and Spain also imposed restrictions on Worldcoin in March due to growing privacy concerns.

Worldcoin — founded in 2019 by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, alongside Max Novendstern and Alex Blania — secured $115 million in a Series C funding round in May 2023. The round was led by Blockchain Capital, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Bain Capital Crypto and Distributed Global.