World Network , rebranded from Worldcoin, has established a presence in the Philippines, aiming to bring devoted to enhancing digital identity and financial access in a nation wrestling with an increase in bot misinformation and deepfake scams.
Is World Network capable of taming the rampant criminal activity spreading in the Philippines?
In the Philippines, characterized by the world's highest social media usage, both AI advancements and challenges are on the rise. Alarmingly, identity fraud cases tied to deepfakes surged by 4,500% between 2022 and 2023.
This challenge is being addressed head-on by World Network through its World ID system.
Scams Abound
As a cornerstone of World Network, World ID is a decentralized protocol focused on privacy, enabling users to verify their identities online without compromising their personal details. Verification through the Orb grants users a World ID.
With this new endeavor, World Network is set to engage the Philippines' young, tech-savvy demographic, which increasingly demands stringent online security solutions.
Initially rolling out in select cities of Bulacan, the World Network team plans to establish verification points throughout the Philippines, aiming for eventual nationwide availability.
World Network assures that joining through World ID won’t cost Filipinos anything, all the while safeguarding their data and privacy robustly.
By joining World Network, Filipinos connect with a vast community currently exceeding 23 million members, out of which more than 11 million identities are verified.
World Network emphasizes its dedication to user privacy. Their Personal Custody system ensures control over users' biometric data, stored securely on personal devices, never shared with Worldcoin or any third parties.
The network employs cutting-edge privacy technologies like Anonymized Multi-Party Computation and zero-knowledge proofs to fortify existing data privacy initiatives in the Philippines.
The launch comes as the Philippines braces for influential midterm elections in May, amidst heightened concerns of misinformation fueled by bots and deepfakes. Worldcoin believes its tech can be pivotal in fostering a transparent, secure online realm.
Despite the launch, World Network's cryptocurrency, WLD, shows minimal movement, trading near $1.225 per CoinGecko, with a slight decrease over the past day.
Ongoing Regulatory Challenges
World Network's expansion has ignited debates over privacy and biometric data collection practices.
In 2023, Kenya's government halted Worldcoin's operations citing violations of the Data Protection Act. Following a detailed inquiry, the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) in May 2023 issued a cessation directive and subsequently revoked the entity’s registration later that year.
The ODPC also mandated that Worldcoin streamline consent processes, prohibit Orb operators from accessing users’ devices, secure informed consent prior to data custody, and obtain explicit authorization to transfer sensitive information outside Kenya.
World Network has encountered legal hurdles in jurisdictions like France, Portugal, Spain, Hong Kong, Brazil, South Korea, and Chile, mainly due to concerns over misuse, data breaches, and surveillance resulting from biometric data collection.
Last month, Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) directed Tools for Humanity, the company behind World Network, to halt offering cryptocurrency rewards for biometric data collection.
The directive followed ANPD's inquiry into the World ID project’s utilization of iris biometrics for a unified digital identity and financial platform, amid concerns about financial incentives affecting consent validity and the permanent implications of biometric data collection.
Earlier this month, the Chilean Supreme Court ruled against Worldcoin for collecting biometric data from minors without authorization.
