Worldcoin Doubles Down on Data Privacy With Personal Custody Tool

Decentralized digital identity project Worldcoin has announced the implementation of Personal Custody features giving users more privacy options over their data. 

In a March 22 announcement, Worldcoin has onboarded new features aiming to boost data privacy for all users and quell concerns over privacy fears expressed from some quarters. The new package revolves around Personal Custody that ensures the information generated on the orb for identification remains on the user’s device. 

This approval enables users to control delete features at any time against the previous method. Before this, such information was deleted by default without users controlling the flow. 

According to the release, this move is a giant step to solidify its user privacy details and architecture while aiming for a wider ID network. Furthermore, the new feature will enable face authentication for more applications. High-security applications will be protected as users can verify that their identity is the same at the time of capturing with the Orb.

“Additionally, with Personal Custody, optional Data Custody will no longer be offered at the time of your orb visit. This helps ensure everyone can learn about Worldcoin before deciding if they’d like to share their information to help improve the project.”

All On Your Mobile

A key prospect is the fact the entire process can be done on a mobile phone by generating a public-private key pair. The encrypted data is then sent to the backend where additional keys are generated that double encryption. The keys are passed to the Orb to create the necessary images for Worldcoin verification. 

The Orb curates individual data packages, encrypts, and signs them for authentication before sending them to the user’s phone before deletion. Worldcoin.

“Since all data is encrypted by your public key, the result of this process is a collection of encrypted data packages that reside exclusively on your device.”

Worldcoin Aims Wider Decentralization  

In another development, Worldcoin aims to improve the decentralization of its service as it makes its core components open source. A March 22 statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) shows the open-source nature of core components alongside reasons for the decision. 

Worldcoin still faces regulatory hurdles in certain jurisdictions; the Kenyan government maintains the platform’s suspension imposed in August 2023.

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