Ethereum Co-Founder Raises Concerns About World Project’s Digital Identification Approach
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has expressed apprehensions regarding the digital identification strategy promoted by Sam Altman’s World project, citing potential privacy risks.
Priorly known as Worldcoin, World emerged from Altman and Alex Blania’s Tools for Humanity initiative. The organization purports to differentiate between AI agents and humans by scanning users’ eyes and establishing a unique identity for them on the blockchain.
In a comprehensive analysis, Buterin highlighted World’s utilization of zero-knowledge proofs to validate human identity while upholding anonymity, a technique also under exploration by various digital passport and digital ID ventures. While recognizing the potential benefits of employing a “ZK-wrapped digital ID” to fortify social media, voting, and internet services against manipulation, he cautioned against the inherent risks of a “one-per-person” ID system.
Buterin contended that the imposition of a singular public identity could diminish individuals’ ability to safeguard themselves through pseudonymity, especially in a world fraught with escalating threats like drones. He pointed out instances like the U.S. government mandating visa applicants to disclose their social media accounts for scrutiny, highlighting the vulnerability of a centralized digital ID system to governmental coercion.
Proposing a paradigm shift towards “pluralistic identity,” Buterin advocated for a decentralized approach where no single entity holds authority over identity verification. He suggested adopting either “explicit” (testimonials from verified users) or “implicit” (diverse identity systems) pluralistic systems as a more viable solution.
In conclusion, Buterin emphasized the integration of “one-per-person” identity projects with social-graph-based identity systems to achieve a more robust and privacy-respecting verification method.
