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AIAAIC-1406

Worldcoin field-testing methods draw controversy

Worldcoin raised concerns among regulators and privacy advocates around the world due to an alleged lack of transparency regarding the methods the organisation is using to collect people’s data . In April 2022, internal documents shared with Technology Review and Buzzfeed News revealed tha t people signing up for Worldcoin iris scans were complaining about unclear, misleading and unethical marketing practices . Specifically, it was alleged that the organisation was collecting more personal data than it acknowledged, failing to obtain meaningful informed consent, and had not been declaring that it was using user data to train its artificial intelligence models. Furthermore, Orb operators in a number of countries comp lained that they had not be en paid for users they had signed -u p, and faced harassment and arrest under local laws. The controversy was seen to raise serious questions about Worldcoin's governance and transparency, and it’s approach to privacy and data collection. System 🤖 Worldcoin iris biometrics Documents Worldcoin (2022). Responses to MIT Technology Review Operator: Tools for Humanity/Worldcoin Developer: Tools for Humanity/Worldcoin Country: Global Sector: Banking/financial services Purpose: Develop digital identity Technology: Iris scanning; Facial detection; Vital signs detection; Blockchain; Virtual currency Issue: Ethics/values; Privacy; Tran sparency

Date it happened
2023-01-01
Organisation involved
Tools for Humanity/Worldcoin
Product, system or model
Worldcoin
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