Behind the bright promise of a safer digital identity, a hard stop has arrived in Thailand.
Authorities have ordered World — the digital identity project backed by Sam Altman — to suspend all activity in the country and permanently erase biometric data collected from Thai residents.
Around 1.2 million iris scans are now under deletion orders, placing one of the world’s most controversial identity projects under an even harsher spotlight.
The instruction was issued by Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Board and confirmed by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.
Officials said World’s practice of collecting iris data in exchange for its WLD token breached the country’s Personal Data Protection Act, which strictly controls how sensitive personal information can be gathered, stored and used.
Source: Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society
Thailand’s data protection authorities concluded that biometric data, especially information that cannot be changed like an iris pattern, had been collected in a way that failed to meet legal standards of consent and data handling.
The latest move follows an October raid on a World-linked iris-scanning site in Bangkok.
The operation involved the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission and the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, which were investigating suspected violations of local digital asset laws.
Authorities arrested individuals accused of running an unlicensed exchange that was handling WLD transactions, exposing users to potential risks tied to fraud and money laundering.
These individuals were said to be unaffiliated with Tools for Humanity, the company behind World.
The investigation strengthened regulators’ concerns that the platform’s expansion in Thailand was not only a data issue, but also part of a broader, unregulated crypto activity risk.
World’s local unit, known as TIDC Worldverse, confirmed it had stopped all verification processes in Thailand.
The country has now been removed from the list of locations where the company’s Orb scanning devices are active.
The company said,
“We have complied with local regulations and will continue to maintain open communication with the authorities,”
Later, it added that the pause came “despite our compliance with local laws and regulations and having presented information to regulators openly and transparently.”
The company also warned that the decision would affect millions of Thai users who rely on its system for protection against scams, identity theft and AI-driven fraud.
Thailand’s action adds to a growing list of countries challenging World’s approach to biometric collection.
In October 2025, Colombia ordered the deletion of biometric data and suspended operations.
The Philippines issued similar measures.
Regulators in Germany, Kenya, Brazil, Indonesia, Portugal, Spain and Hong Kong have also raised objections around privacy, consent and long-term security risks.
In parts of Europe, authorities ruled that even anonymised iris codes count as personal data under GDPR, which demands stricter protection.
Other regulators criticised the model of offering tokens in exchange for scans, arguing that financial incentives compromise true consent.
In response, World has started shifting to a Secure Multi-Party Computation system, releasing an upgraded Orb with more transparency and introducing a non-biometric verification method using passports and NFC.
The company also says older iris codes are being deleted as part of privacy upgrades and that no raw biometric data is stored directly on the Orb.
The company repeated in its defence,
“We ensure that all data collected is anonymised and protected from breaches.”
The regulatory clampdown has added pressure on Worldcoin’s price.
After Thailand’s order, WLD slid to an intraday low of $0.6172 before edging up slightly to around $0.6594.
The token remains in a deep downturn, nearly 95% below its March 2024 all-time high and down about 33% over the past year.
Adding to the drag, 37 million WLD tokens, worth around $23 million, were unlocked in November 2025 and quickly moved to exchanges.
The increased supply has added to selling pressure at a fragile time.
Thai exchanges including Binance Thailand, Bitkub and Orbix have told users to be cautious.
One notice read:
“Given the significance of this information which may potentially affect users’ rights and interests… advises all users to exercise caution and careful judgment when trading or holding WLD tokens.”
While Thailand closes its doors, World’s global footprint keeps expanding.
The company has launched its World ID service in the United States and the Philippines.
The World App now claims more than 37 million users and over 100 million verifications across 160 countries, showing that demand and resistance are growing in parallel.
World’s ambition to prove human identity in an online world filled with AI is timely, and in many ways, necessary.
Yet the method — trading permanent biometric data for access and tokens — is where trust continues to break down.
Countries are not rejecting the idea of digital identity.
They are rejecting the cost at which it is being built.
If World is to move forward, the future will likely depend less on Orbs and more on transparency, consent without reward, and systems that put people — not technology — at the centre of control.
After months of controversy, Sam Altman’s Worldcoin is betting on a comeback — and it’s doing so through one of crypto’s hottest prediction platforms. Global prediction markets have hit record highs, with weekly volumes surpassing $2 billion, since the news of the integration of Polymarket into World broke.
XingChiWorldcoin will launch in London on 12 June, using eye-scanning technology to verify people’s identity and stop AI fraud. The project is expanding across the UK and aims to help governments and platforms tackle fake users online.
WeatherlyWorld Network is in discussions with Visa to develop a stablecoin wallet that would connect to Visa’s vast payment network. If successful, this collaboration could bring crypto payments to a global scale.
AnaisWorld has launched its digital ID service in Brazil to help combat online identity fraud using biometric scans. With over 16 million users globally, the service aims to distinguish real people from bots amid rising AI threats.
WeatherlyWorldcoin has rebranded to "World" and launched new initiatives, including the World ID Credentials program and an upgraded Orb device for identity verification. While the project has generated excitement, trust issues remain, particularly due to concerns about privacy and recent controversies surrounding its leadership, which has resulted in a mixed market response.
WeatherlyA large investor deposited over $3.3 million worth of Worldcoin tokens into Binance, suffering a $50,000 loss, drawing scrutiny on Worldcoin's trajectory. DeFi^2 warned that Worldcoin's tokenomics may primarily benefit insiders, emphasising its hyperinflationary model and manipulative design, raising concerns in the crypto community.
WeatherlyOpenAI's GPT-4o integrates text, audio, and video processing, revolutionizing human-computer interaction. Despite Worldcoin's recent price drop and misconceptions about its affiliation with OpenAI, the latter gears up for the launch of its macOS desktop app.
AnaisOpenAI is set to release GPT-5, a significant upgrade to its conversational AI, potentially in mid-2024. Apple is also making strides in generative AI, with plans to unveil new developments later this year. Meanwhile, OpenAI's video generation tool, Sora, faces challenges regarding cost and ethical concerns. Despite progress, questions remain about Sora's data sources. Sam Altman's return to OpenAI's board signals governance improvements, while his cryptocurrency venture, Worldcoin, sees a surge in value. These advancements highlight the rapid evolution of AI technology, but concerns persist about transparency and misuse.
BerniceWhile Worldcoin faces regulatory hurdles in Spain, long-term prospects remain optimistic, with increasing adoption and improving fundamentals.
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