Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Expands Human Verification Program to Brazil Amid AI-Driven Identity Threats

Worldcoin, led by Sam Altman and Alex Blania's Tools For Humanity, recently announced the launch of its World ID verification in Brazil, a move designed to counter the rising threat of AI-powered identity theft. This expansion comes as Worldcoin aims to significantly boost its user base in crypto-friendly Brazil, a nation of over 215 million people, where identity theft is notably common—affecting 93% of Brazilians, either directly or indirectly, according to the project.

Worldcoin, which rebranded from its former name, World, has now accumulated over 7.5 million verified World IDs across 160+ countries, showing a growth of about a million new users since September. The project’s primary goal is ambitious: to provide every human with a unique digital ID. This verification process involves scanning users' irises, ensuring they are human and not AI-generated entities. In return, verified users receive WLD crypto tokens, incentivizing participation in the system.

The timing of this launch is crucial as digital spaces increasingly face challenges from AI-generated bots, scams, and deep fakes. According to Worldcoin, "bad bots" currently represent nearly a third of global internet traffic, with projections suggesting bot traffic could soon surpass human activity online. Worldcoin’s ID verification aims to address these growing issues, providing a robust way to differentiate between real and AI-driven digital entities.

Despite its aspirations, Worldcoin has encountered regulatory resistance in some regions due to concerns over privacy and data security. While the system relies on biometric data for identity verification, the company asserts that it deletes sensitive data post-verification, retaining only an anonymous ID to ensure user privacy and compliance with regulatory standards.