American comedian and media critic Adam Conover is facing intense criticism online after sharing a sponsored video on Instagram involving Worldcoin’s controversial iris-scanning Orb — a biometric device that has already sparked global privacy concerns and regulatory crackdowns.

In the three-minute clip, Conover includes a disclaimer stating that he was paid by the Worldcoin-affiliated World Project to attend a keynote event and ask questions — not to endorse the product. Yet many viewers felt the video veered into promotion territory.

He ends the video on a seemingly neutral note, saying:

"Let me know what you're gonna do — are you gonna get yourself Orbed or not? It's entirely up to you."

Accused of “Soft Promotion” Despite Disclaimer

Despite the disclaimer, users across platforms — especially Reddit — accused Conover of subtly endorsing Worldcoin, which many in the crypto community view as deeply invasive and ethically questionable.

Critics highlighted the contradiction between Conover’s established persona on “Adam Ruins Everything,” where he is known for dissecting shady corporate practices, and his relatively tame approach to a project some say undermines user privacy.

One Redditor commented:

“Even in the crypto space, Worldcoin is well-known to be a huge invasion of privacy and absolutely predatory… Adam has no reason to not have known what he was promoting. Really disappointing.”

Others noted that while Conover briefly shows the Orb scanning his iris, the footage is minimal — suggesting even he might harbor doubts about the product’s safety or legitimacy.

Worldcoin Faces Global Regulatory Bans

The timing of Conover’s video couldn't be more contentious. Worldcoin is under increasing scrutiny from regulators worldwide, with several countries already suspending or banning the project over concerns tied to biometric data collection and consent.

Governments in Indonesia, Brazil, Spain, Germany, and Hong Kong have all taken action against the project, citing legal, ethical, and data protection violations.

Indonesia most recently halted all Worldcoin activities through its Ministry of Communication and Informatics, calling out irregular registration practices and unresolved legal concerns.

Globally, critics argue that offering crypto tokens in exchange for biometric data—particularly in low-income regions—raises serious ethical red flags.

Many worry that people in vulnerable economic situations may feel coerced into surrendering their personal data for monetary rewards.

Worldcoin Responds With Promises of Control

In response to the mounting backlash, Worldcoin has claimed that users can now permanently delete their iris codes, effectively deactivating their World IDs.

The company also insists that all biometric data is stored locally on the user’s device and is never shared with third parties.

Still, privacy experts and data regulators remain unconvinced. Many argue that the project’s promises do little to address the long-term risks of mass biometric collection, especially without stronger oversight or transparency.

As Worldcoin continues to expand globally, the public response to Adam Conover’s video highlights the increasing tension between Web3 innovation and digital rights.

The backlash also raises important questions about the role of influencers in legitimizing controversial technologies — especially those with serious implications for privacy and data ethics.

With regulators intensifying their investigations and public trust hanging by a thread, Worldcoin’s ambitions — and its partnerships with high-profile figures — are likely to remain under scrutiny for the foreseeable future.