TL;DR
Worldcoin has launched Face Auth, a new facial recognition feature in its World App, which has raised privacy concerns.
Face Auth, currently in testing, offers 1:1 facial comparison and will be used in applications such as online purchases and financial transactions.
Despite plans to make Face Auth open-source in the future, this technology has intensified concerns about the management and security of biometric data.
Worldcoin, a project known for its focus on identity verification through blockchain technology, has introduced a new feature in its World App that has raised privacy concerns. This new function, called Face Auth, uses facial recognition technology to verify users’ identities.
Face Auth aims to provide a 1:1 facial comparison, which is described as highly secure, ensuring that only the person who has verified their World ID through one of Worldcoin’s iris-scanning devices can access the app. This method will be employed in various applications related to online purchases, financial transactions, and secure logins.
Introducing Face Auth, even more security for your World ID 
pic.twitter.com/3OJ4s7lABp
— Worldcoin (@worldcoin) September 19, 2024
Although Face Auth is currently in the testing phase and available only in selected locations, the new system raises serious privacy concerns. Facial recognition, a technology that has been widely criticized for its implications in the collection and storage of biometric data, adds to the already complex data protection landscape. Worldcoin is competing directly with technology giants such as Apple and Google, which have dominated the biometric authentication market for years.
Worldcoin Raises More Doubts Day by Day
The deployment of Face Auth in the World App Wallet highlights the growing trend of integrating facial recognition technology into digital platforms. This concerning trend is raising alarms about privacy protection. Although Worldcoin has announced plans to make the technology open-source in the future, which could allow for greater transparency, this could also bring additional risks if not managed properly.
In addition to its main function, the World App Wallet allows users to store, send, and receive the Worldcoin (WLD) token and participate in the reward system. The app has around 15 million global users, with 6.7 million having been verified through iris-scanning technology.
Face Auth comes after the launch of Worldcoin’s SMPC system, designed to protect sensitive data. However, the implementation of facial recognition technologies only exacerbates concerns about how biometric data is managed and protected, making it imperative to audit these technologies to safeguard users
