Vitalik Buterin Skeptical of Sam Altman’s World Project
▼ Summary
– Vitalik Buterin warns that Sam Altman’s World project, which scans eyeballs for digital IDs, poses privacy risks despite using zero-knowledge proofs.
– Buterin acknowledges that blockchain-based digital IDs could help distinguish humans from bots but criticizes the “one-per-person” system for limiting pseudonymity.
– He highlights risks like governments forcing users to reveal their digital ID-linked activities, citing U.S. visa social media screening as an example.
– Buterin advocates for “pluralistic identity” systems with no single authority, suggesting social-graph-based or multi-verification approaches.
– He proposes merging existing “one-per-person” ID projects with social-graph-based identity as the best realistic privacy-preserving solution.
Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin has raised serious concerns about the privacy implications of Sam Altman’s World project, formerly known as Worldcoin. The initiative, developed by Tools for Humanity, aims to differentiate humans from AI by scanning irises to generate blockchain-based digital identities. While the technology promises enhanced security, Buterin warns it could fundamentally undermine personal privacy.
In a detailed analysis, Buterin acknowledged that zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), a cryptographic method allowing verification without revealing personal data, could theoretically safeguard anonymity. Projects like World claim this approach prevents bot manipulation in social media, voting, and other online services. However, he argues that enforcing a “one-person-one-ID” system still carries substantial risks.
The core issue, according to Buterin, is the erosion of pseudonymity, the ability to operate under multiple identities when necessary. He points out that real-world safety often depends on compartmentalization, such as activists or journalists using alternate accounts to avoid persecution. A single, traceable digital identity could eliminate this protective layer.
To illustrate the danger, he referenced recent U.S. policies requiring visa applicants to make social media profiles public for government scrutiny. Even if World’s system initially hides connections between accounts, authorities could compel users to disclose their full activity history, effectively nullifying privacy protections.
Instead of centralized identity solutions, Buterin advocates for pluralistic identity frameworks, where no single entity controls verification. These systems could operate through social attestations (existing users vouching for newcomers) or diverse, interoperable ID methods. He believes this decentralized approach balances security with personal freedom, offering a more sustainable alternative to rigid, one-size-fits-all models.
Ultimately, Buterin suggests that projects like World should integrate with social-graph-based identity systems, blending verification with flexibility. Without such adaptations, he warns, the push for universal digital IDs could inadvertently enable surveillance rather than prevent it.
(Source: TechCrunch)
