Trading Faces: My Journey Into Worldcoin and the Cybersecurity Dilemmas of Biometrics

As a tech enthusiast with a shaky grasp on cybersecurity and successfully emptying my bank account every month, I found myself drawn to a bold new opportunity: Worldcoin. A cryptocurrency startup promising to reshape global financial access, it caught my attention for its unconventional onboarding process: scanning your iris and face to earn 25 Worldcoins. Skeptical yet intrigued, I decided to dive in and see for myself.

CampusAI Warsaw: A Glimpse Into the Future

The journey began at CampusAI in Warsaw, a hub for tech and AI innovation. As I stepped inside, I saw a handful of people engaged in what seemed like the most futuristic job imaginable: Orb Operators. These individuals oversee the scanning process, manning what looked like a polished metallic sphere straight out of a sci-fi film. The Orb, Worldcoin’s flagship device, uses biometric technology to capture unique identifiers from participants like me.

The process was surprisingly simple. After a quick chat with an Orb Operator, I placed my face in front of the device, and in a matter of few failed attempts, it had scanned both my iris and facial biometrics. After also scanning my face inside the app on my phone, I was informed that the 25 Worldcoins would land in my wallet within 48 hours. The transaction felt seamless, but as I walked away, a flood of questions filled my mind.