What is the World's Orb, and how does it protect your personal data?
Published on May 2, 2025
World’s Orb is a biometric device designed to verify that users are unique humans by scanning their irises and generating an encrypted "IrisCode" without identifying or storing personal data. It plays a central role in the World Network, enabling access to digital services through a World ID while emphasising privacy through decentralised storage and open-source software. Recent upgrades to the Orb, including enhanced hardware and self-service options, aim to improve efficiency and scalability. However, despite efforts like anonymised multi-party computation (AMPC) and auditability improvements, the project faces criticism over data privacy, consent, and regulatory compliance, especially in countries with strict biometric data laws.