Sam Altman # 039; s World raises $135M from Andreessen, Bain, to broaden network

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Capital Crypto, the company said in an announcement.The capital will be used to expand World's network of iris-scanning orbs and
infrastructure in the United States, where the company said in April it would operate in six cities, and increase coverage around the globe,
according to the announcement.More than 12.5 million individuals in over 160 jurisdictions have been issued a World ID, the company said.The
project, which collects biometric data from individuals to establish "proof of personhood," faces regulatory headwinds and bans in several
countries
Critics of the project say that offering financial incentives for biometric data violates informed consent, sparking a debate about the
ethics of centralized digital ID systems and data privacy.Major components of an iris-scanning World orb visualized
ordered World to stop providing services in the country due to concerns that incentivizing biometric data collection via cryptocurrency
payments violates informed consent.The ANPD upheld the decision to ban World in March, citing the company's business model of offering
cryptocurrency payments to users in return for their biometric data.World faces fines of 50,000 Brazilian reais ($8,851) per day if it
Source: Brazilian GovernmentIndonesia's Ministry of Communications and Digital (Komdigi), a data and communication watchdog, suspended
World's business license on May 4 after accusing some of the company's subsidiaries of failing to register as digital asset service
providers under the Electronic System Operator Certificate Registration (TDPSE) framework.Komdigi has launched an investigation into the
project and will meet with representatives from the subsidiaries following the suspension to clarify the matter.The bans in both countries
follow a December 2024 order from the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA), a German data protection regulator,
demanding that World adhere to the European Union's data protection standards by allowing individuals the option to easily delete their
biometric data from the network.Magazine: Worldcoin fined again! Crypto store clerk runs off with $500K cash: Asia Express