Why Some Say No to Worldcoin—and Why I’m Still Listening
I’ve always been curious about people—how they live, what they believe, what shapes their choices. As a child, I asked to go to Hebrew school, even though we weren’t particularly observant. Later, when we moved from Florida to the mountains of Colorado, I happily attended Sunday school with my friends instead. I felt welcome everywhere I went. That openness stayed with me, even as I grew older and began to learn about things I hadn’t seen growing up—like the deep, entrenched patterns of racism that shape life for many in ways I had never personally experienced. My background—a blend of European, Native American, Southern Baptist, and New York Jewish roots—felt complex, even unusual. But it didn’t prepare me for the conversations I now have with friends who carry a very different kind of caution. Especially when it comes to things like surveillance, digital ID, and biometrics.
And lately, those conversations have gotten more pointed—because I invited them to consider something called Worldcoin.
When I shared my excitement about Worldcoin with a few friends—including the promise of a decentralized ID system that starts with a quick biometric scan—I was met with something I hadn’t expected: hesitation. One friend declined outright. She didn’t like the idea of her biometrics being “out there,” no matter how secure the system claimed to be. At first, I was surprised. After all, many of us already use Face ID to unlock our phones, or let our devices scan our fingerprints. But her response wasn’t about convenience—it was about history. For her, and for others in my circle, there’s a long memory of systems that claimed to serve the public good, yet disproportionately harmed Black communities. The idea of trusting another system—especially one tied to global identity and data—wasn’t a small ask. It required something deeper than tech specs or security audits. It required trust.
When I was interviewed at the Worldcoin Flagship Center in Los Angeles, one of the first questions I was asked was whether I felt concerned about handing over my biometric data to a metallic sphere known as the Orb—and whether I actually believed it would delete my information after verifying my humanity. The question caught me off guard. I hadn’t felt concerned at all. I use Apple devices daily. A few years ago, I signed up for CLEAR at the airport, which also scanned my eyes and stored my data. So when Worldcoin came along, it didn’t feel like a leap—it felt familiar. But more than that, I was already deeply interested in blockchain technology and its potential beyond just Bitcoin. I remember the first time I truly understood what decentralization could mean: access, autonomy, transparency. The story of Bitcoin creating opportunities for the unbanked had always stayed with me. Worldcoin struck me as another branch from that same tree—something that could help people prove they’re human and participate in digital life, without relying on institutions that have failed or excluded them.
Even so, I want to be clear: I deeply respect those who choose not to participate—or who hesitate. That caution makes sense to me. History has given plenty of reasons to be skeptical, especially for communities that have borne the brunt of surveillance, exclusion, and broken promises. I don’t believe trust should ever be demanded; it should be earned, and ideally, invited through transparency and choice. While I may feel comfortable with technologies like this, I understand why others don't—and I believe those concerns deserve to be taken seriously, not dismissed as fear or resistance to progress.
What Is Worldcoin?
At its core, Worldcoin is an ambitious project aiming to provide every person on the planet with a unique digital identity. This identity, called a World ID, is created by verifying that you're a real, living human being—not a bot or AI. To do that, Worldcoin uses a device called the Orb—a polished metal sphere that scans your iris and confirms your uniqueness without storing your biometric data (unless you choose to opt in to data custody).
Once verified, you receive a World ID that you can use to log in or verify yourself across future apps and platforms. It’s like a passport for the digital age, except it’s not issued by a government. The idea is to give people a way to prove they’re human—especially in a world where AI-generated content and fake accounts are rapidly increasing—while still protecting privacy and decentralizing control.
Worldcoin also includes a cryptocurrency, WLD, which is distributed to verified users in some regions. But unlike Bitcoin, where mining is done by machines solving puzzles, Worldcoin’s tokens are “mined” by proving humanness. The goal? To create a more equitable, inclusive system where access isn’t tied to geography, government ID, or financial privilege.
A Global Initiative from the Outset
Worldcoin, now known as World, was co-founded in 2019 by Sam Altman and Alex Blania, through their company, Tools for Humanity. Altman is from the United States while Blania is from Germany. Still, from the beginning, the project focused on global access and inclusion—launching in countries around the world before it became available in the U.S. That global-first approach struck a chord with me. I’ve always felt drawn to the idea of reaching across boundaries—not to erase differences, but to honor them while finding something shared. Maybe it goes back to my childhood, when I noticed how a synagogue service and a church service could feel so different, yet still connect people to something bigger than themselves. That quiet fascination with connection—across belief, culture, or geography—has never left me.
Before its official launch in the United States in May 2025, Worldcoin had already been active in numerous countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The initiative aimed to address the challenges of digital identity and financial inclusion on a global scale, particularly in areas where traditional identification systems are lacking and unreliable.
This international focus underscores Worldcoin's commitment to building a universally accessible digital identity framework, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and global participation in the digital economy.
How Worldcoin Handles Privacy—and How It Compares
One of the biggest questions people have about Worldcoin is: What happens to my biometric data? That question isn’t unique to this project—any time you use Face ID, enroll in CLEAR, or even renew a passport, you’re handing over a piece of your physical identity in digital form. But the systems vary widely in how they handle that data.
🧠 Worldcoin's Approach
When you verify your identity through the Orb, it scans your iris to confirm your uniqueness as a human. The default setting is privacy-first: the system creates a mathematical encoding of your iris pattern, checks that it hasn’t been seen before, and then deletes the original image. If you choose to opt in, you can allow your data to be retained for improving the system—but this is optional and clearly disclosed.
Worldcoin emphasizes that the World ID itself is not linked to your name, phone number, or any personal data. It’s just proof that you’re a real, unique human. Think of it like a privacy-preserving passport for online life—designed to work even if you don’t trust centralized institutions.
🍏 Apple Devices
Apple’s Face ID and Touch ID systems are generally regarded as secure. Your biometric data is encrypted and stored only on your device’s Secure Enclave—not in the cloud, not shared with Apple. That means even Apple can’t access it. However, these systems are proprietary and tightly controlled within Apple’s ecosystem.
✈️ CLEAR and Government Systems
CLEAR uses your biometrics to verify your identity at airports and venues, and stores them in centralized databases. Government-issued IDs and passports with biometric chips also involve centralized control and long-term retention of data. These systems are typically more rigid—and often less transparent about how data may be shared with third parties, including law enforcement.
What Makes Worldcoin Different?
Worldcoin’s use of decentralized ID is what makes it stand apart. It’s not just about verification—it’s about creating a system where no single entity owns or controls your identity. That said, it’s still new, and skepticism is healthy. Critics have raised valid concerns about consent, informed understanding, and whether biometric privacy can ever truly be guaranteed.
Haven’t We Already Given Away Our Biometrics?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized: my biometric data has been “out there” for a long time. I gave digital fingerprints when I applied for my Global Entry card. I vaguely remember giving them earlier, too—possibly when renewing a driver’s license. I’ve used CLEAR in airports. I use Face ID and Touch ID on my Apple devices. And yes, I even gave blood to get married—twice. In different ways, my body has been part of my paperwork.
“In different ways, my body has been part of my paperwork for years. What makes Worldcoin different is what it doesn’t do with that information.”
So when the Orb scanned my iris and turned it into a mathematical code, it didn’t feel intrusive—it felt like a new version of something I’d already done. But Worldcoin does something different with that data.
Instead of storing the image or tying it to your name, the system checks to see whether this unique biometric code has already been registered. If not, you’re verified as a unique human and receive a World ID. If it has, the system knows someone has already claimed it—no duplicate accounts, no false identities. It’s a one-time check to ensure fairness, not ongoing surveillance.
What stood out to me is this: the World ID you receive isn’t linked to your name, phone number, or even the image of your eye. It’s just a proof of humanness—a way to show you’re real, without handing over your identity to a centralized database.
“Plenty of systems collect our data. The real question is who holds it, who profits from it, and whether we ever get to opt out.”
Conclusion
I don’t believe technology can—or should—solve everything. It can’t undo centuries of mistrust, nor can it promise safety in a world that hasn’t earned it. But sometimes, it offers a new beginning. A tool. A possibility. That’s how I see Worldcoin: not as a perfect answer, but as a small step toward something more fair, more global, and maybe even more human. I understand why some of my friends say no, and I honor that choice. I believe both caution and curiosity have a place in these conversations. In fact, we need both if we want to build systems that work for everyone—not just those who already feel safe.
Postscript (Optional Add-On):
I’d love to hear your thoughts—especially if you’ve been thinking about digital identity, privacy, or what it means to be “verified” in a world full of bots and barriers. Whether you’re intrigued, skeptical, or somewhere in between, these conversations matter.
If you're curious to explore more:
Visit Tools for Humanity to learn about the mission behind Worldcoin
Or go straight to World.org to see how the Orb works and what World ID is all about
Or, if you prefer a guided, non-jargony intro, take my free course:
👉 Worldcoin Quickstart: Get Your ID + Bonus Tokens
If you'd like to share your thoughts privately, you're always welcome to email me at: terza@theterzafactor.com.
