Malaysia seeks to address national concerns and expand economic opportunities by implementing cutting-edge biometric verification technology.
Malaysia has adopted Worldcoin’s controversial iris-scanning technology for personal verification purposes.
The Worldcoin Foundation, Tools for Humanity (TFH), and MyEG have signed a memorandum of understanding with MIMOS Berhad, the Malaysian government’s R&D department.
Areas of Collaboration
This partnership aims to integrate Worldcoin’s technology into Malaysia’s digital infrastructure, improving the verification of digital credentials.
The collaboration involves using TFH’s iris imaging technology, developed for Worldcoin, to verify individuals’ identities, a process referred to as “proof of humanness.”
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance digital credential work within Malaysia.
Additional areas of collaboration include the potential for joint orb manufacturing, linking the World Chain to Malaysia’s National Blockchain Infrastructure, and making Worldcoin’s technology open-source.
While TFH will provide technical expertise and support for both the Orb and World App, MyEG will focus on technical integrations and hardware deployment to support MIMOS’s initiatives.
This launch in Malaysia follows Worldcoin’s recent expansions in Europe and Latin America.
Global Scrutiny and Skepticism
Worldcoin’s expansion has faced significant controversy. The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision recently investigated Worldcoin due to concerns about biometric data collection.
Other governmental agencies, including those in Spain — where Worldcoin has temporarily halted operations — have expressed similar concerns.
In Hong Kong, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data found that Worldcoin’s operations violated the region’s Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, leading to a suspension of services.
Despite these challenges, Worldcoin has been actively working to comply with local privacy laws, aiming to build trust with users and regulators.
In May, the company open-sourced its biometric data system and confirmed that users could securely delete their old iris codes.
In Kenya, an investigation led to the cessation of Worldcoin’s operations in 2023, but the inquiry concluded in June with no further action required.
Worldcoin’s journey has also been marred by allegations of price manipulation and scams involving its native token.
Although the company has denied any insider trading or manipulation, these issues continue to impact its reputation.
