Advisor Claims Global Iris-Scanning Technology Misconstrued; Data Remains Within Device

Sam Altman’s blockchain project World has sparked controversy in the past due to its use of iris-scanning technology for creating digital identities. However, World Foundation Advisor Liam Horne states that misconceptions often surround this technology, known as orbs. It’s “actually the complete opposite,” of what critics suggest regarding World or Altman owning that data, Horne said on Wednesday at a panel at Consensus 2025. “The data literally never leaves the orb.”
The World Network employs orbs—chrome, bowling ball-shaped devices—to perform iris scans that verify an individual’s unique identity as part of a system called “proof-of-personhood.” When a user looks into an orb, the device maps their iris and immediately converts the biometric into a privacy-preserving address known as a World ID, which confirms that a user is a real, unique human being, rather than a bot.
The project has faced scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions, with regulators in Europe, Africa, and Asia raising concerns about data privacy and consent. Nevertheless, Horne reiterated that the system is designed to be privacy-preserving from the ground up.
Previously, orbs were only available in select locations in South America, Asia, and Africa, but earlier this month, the team behind World announced their expansion to the United States, bringing orbs to six different cities, including Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco.