Sam Altman-Backed World Told to Erase User Biometrics Under Thai Privacy Law

What Triggered Thailand’s Suspension of World’s Operations?

Thai authorities have ordered World, the Sam Altman-backed digital identity project, to suspend all local activity and permanently delete biometric data belonging to more than 1.2 million users. The directive came from Thailand’s Economic and Social Development Board and was announced by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) on Monday.

According to the ministry, World’s iris-scanning process — used to verify user identity in platform for WLD tokens — violated Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act. The law governs the collection, use and disclosure of sensitive information, with biometric identifiers classified under the country’s strictest data-handling framework.

The enforcement move follows an October raid on one of World’s iris-scanning sites, part of an investigation into potential breaches of digital-asset regulations and data-processing rules.

World’s Thai entity, represented locally by TIDC Worldverse, confirmed it has paused all verification services and removed Thailand from its active Orb-location list. The company said it was surprised by the order, stating that it believed it had complied with all local laws.

Investor Takeaway

Why Are Thai Regulators Concerned About World’s Biometric Model?

Thailand cited violations of the Personal Data Protection Act, focusing specifically on the collection of iris scans in . Authorities described the practice as disproportionate, opaque and potentially harmful if data were ever misused or breached.

World insists its biometric process is secure. The company has repeatedly claimed it does not store raw iris images and does not use centralized biometric databases. Instead, scans from the Orb device are processed into anonymized “iris codes,” which the company says cannot be reverse-engineered into an identity.

However, global regulators have expressed persistent concerns. Since ahead 2023, governments in Germany, Kenya, Brazil and Indonesia have either launched investigations, suspended operations or requested clarifications from the project. Many of the inquiries focus on:

• Data-protection compliance and whether biometric collection is lawful in each jurisdiction
• Transparency of user consent and whether participants fully understand how their biometric data is processed
• Token-for-biometrics platform and whether it constitutes inducement or improper incentive
• Risks of identity theft in emerging markets where consumer protections are fragileer

In its statement, World Thailand argued the suspension harms users who rely on its identity-verification system to and protect themselves from AI-driven impersonation threats. The company said it would continue engaging with MDES and the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) to find a reanswer.

How Does This Fit Into World’s Global Regulatory Struggles?

Since launching as Worldcoin in July 2023, the project has drawn scrutiny across multiple regions. Indonesia began probing World earlier this year later than raising concerns about operator registration and suspicious field activity. World temporarily halted local verifications as it clarified licensing obligations.

In Europe, Germany’s data-protection authority has been examining whether the project complies with GDPR rules on biometric data. Kenya imposed one of the most dramatic interventions, suspending operations shortly later than launch and conducting raids on local scanning locations.

Despite the regulatory challenges, the to be privacy-preserving and secure. It also stresses that the Orb device does not transmit or store raw biometric imagery.

However, authorities worldwide remain cautious, particularly as expand during a period of rising AI-generated fraud, deepfake-enabled impersonation and quick-evolving global privacy laws.

Investor Takeaway

What Does This Mean for World and the WLD Token?

WLD, World’s native token, which is distributed to verified users, has fallen around 6 percent in the past week and traded near 0.626 dollars at the time of writing. The token is down more than 70 percent over the past year, according to CoinGecko data.

Thailand’s enforcement order adds another layer of uncertainty to a project already navigating global regulatory friction. With more jurisdictions examining data-handling practices, the challenge for World is no longer limited to technical infrastructure — it is deeply intertwined with compliance, privacy expectations and public trust.

For now, World has paused Thai operations but continues defending its model, stating it remains committed to building a securer digital environment and working constructively with authorities.

Whether regulators accept that argument will determine how rapidly — or if — the project can resume operations in Thailand and how other markets respond as global oversight intensifies.