Thailand Orders World to Delete Iris Scans: A Nationwide Privacy Showdown
Thailand has ignited a major global privacy confrontation after directing World, the Sam Altman–backed digital identity platform, to immediately shut down operations and delete all iris scans collected from 1.2 million Thai users. Regulators say the company violated the country’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) which regulates how personal data can be collected and stored.
The directive came from Thailand’s Economic and Social Development Board and was confirmed by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), escalating months of rising tension between the project and Thai authorities.
Why Thailand Ordered World to Delete Iris Scans
Regulators claim World’s model — offering its WLD token in exchange for iris scans — breached PDPA rules.
This comes shortly after authorities raided one of World’s scanning locations in October, investigating possible digital asset law violations and concerns about how biometric data was being handled.
The government now insists the company must completely suspend services in Thailand and erase all previously gathered iris scans.
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World Halts Thai Operations — But Rejects Wrongdoing
World’s Thai partner, reportedly operating as TIDC Worldverse, confirmed that it has paused all verifications and removed Thailand from its list of active Orb-scanning regions.
In a post on X, the company pushed back against the allegations:
“This order comes despite our compliance with local laws and regulations and having presented information to regulators openly and transparently.”
World argues the shutdown harms millions of Thais who rely on its digital identity tools to protect themselves from fraud, identity theft, and AI-driven scams.
The company maintains that it remains committed to cooperating with MDES and the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) to find a resolution.
Global Pressure Mounts Over World’s Biometric Model
Thailand’s move adds to a growing list of international regulatory challenges for World, formerly known as Worldcoin:
- Indonesia launched an investigation into suspicious activity and licensing concerns.
- Germany, Kenya, and Brazil raised alarm over biometric privacy risks.
World insists the technology is safe, stating in a previous communication:
“World does not use centralized biometric infrastructure. Iris scans are never stored on the Orb.”
Instead, the company says the Orb converts images into anonymized iris codes and does not retain raw photos.
Thailand Orders World to Delete Iris Scans as WLD Token Slumps
World’s native crypto token, WLD, has felt the impact of the controversy.
The token has fallen around 6% this week, trading near $0.62, and is down more than 70% over the past year, according to CoinGecko.
Ongoing investigations, sudden suspensions, and intensifying privacy concerns are increasingly challenging World’s mission to build a global biometric identity system.
Conclusion
Thailand’s aggressive move to force the deletion of 1.2 million iris scans marks one of the strongest global pushbacks against biometric-crypto identity initiatives. As scrutiny intensifies worldwide, the future of World’s ambitious digital identity project — and the sustainability of its token economy — remains uncertain.
