Frequently Asked Questions
General
The real human network. Identity, finance and community for every human.
Technology is rapidly advancing and its benefits should reach and elevate everyone.
World is a network of real humans, built on privacy-preserving proof of human technology and powered by a globally inclusive financial network that enables the free flow of digital assets for all. It is built to connect, empower and be owned by everyone.
World ID
A digital proof of human that securely and anonymously proves you are a unique human. It supports multiple types of human-exclusive verifications via proof of human credentials, allowing users to prove they are human and unique.
A custom device called the Orb is used to verify you are a unique human.
Importantly, World ID is built in an open source and decentralized manner, allowing anyone to interact with and build alongside the protocol.
Simply put, World ID grants individuals an anonymous way to prove they are human online in a world where intelligence is no longer a discriminator between people and AI.
To sign up for a fully verified World ID, follow these three steps:
- Step 1: Download World App, created and operated by Tools for Humanity, from the App Store or Google Play in countries where it is available.
- Step 2: Follow the prompts to find a local World Operator who can verify you are a unique human.
- Step 3: After verification, receive your verified World ID in your World App and use it in a wide variety of everyday applications without revealing your identity.
The steps to sign up for a World ID are outlined in the blog post, How to sign up for World ID and use World App.
More Orbs are being released globally. Please continue to check World App regularly (Settings > Find an Orb).
Once you have created your account in World App, you have the option to verify your World ID that lives locally on your phone at an Orb. Having a verified World ID can enable additional use cases that require proof of human assurance. You can still use an unverified World ID for some purposes even if you do not visit an Orb.
In other words, to take part in World Network, you are not required to visit an Orb. If you choose to verify your World ID at an Orb, you can go to World App to find an Orb and complete your verification. The Orb will take images of your face and eyes to generate a unique iris code. These images are encrypted and downloaded to your phone prior to their deletion from the Orb.
All that remains are persistently encrypted shards of iris codes that are not linked to an individual’s wallet or World App account. Read more about this process, called Anonymized Multi-Party Computation(AMPC), in the blog post.
The World ID sign up process is only intended and conducted to verify you are a unique human (i.e. that you have not previously verified a World ID and that you are human. It is not intended to verify who you are (i.e. your identity).
World ID, a proof of human powered by World Network, is designed to enable anonymous actions. When you use World ID, for instance, to verify with a third-party service that you are a unique human being, your World ID is not revealed to that third party. Through zero knowledge attestation, you only reveal that you have a valid World ID. Following a passport analogy, verifications with World ID are essentially stamps that allow the World ID holder to prove that a specific passport has been verified without revealing information about the passport itself. In addition, World ID is not connected to your self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet within World App—both are separate key pairs with separate keys that serve different purposes.
Sign-in and authentication: World ID allows you to sign-in and authenticate into web, mobile and decentralized applications and privately attest that you are a unique human and not a bot or AI system. By signing in with World ID to apps and services, you do not need to disclose any personal information such as a phone number or email address. The application or service will only know you are a unique human; your actions are not trackable through World ID. Today, sign-in with World ID is available through integrations with third parties such as Okta’s Auth0.
Claim with World ID: You can also claim certain products and services with World ID, particularly where a third-party wants to ensure that the product or service is only claimed once by each human. By claiming with World ID, you are signaling that you are only claiming once and cannot claim multiple times. Today, claiming with World is available through services like Discord, where you can claim a unique badge proving you are a unique human and not a bot or AI system.
Future uses: The World SDK is open source and available for anyone to build on World Network. Future uses will continue to emerge as more developers use World ID as a proof of human verification protocol and signal.
No. If you use your World ID, you never reveal your Orb verification data, nor iris images or iris codes. Actions taken with World ID are not linked to a person's iris images or iris codes and third parties cannot link different actions taken with someone’s World ID through World ID data. World ID is designed to enable anonymous actions. It is not connected to your self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet—both are separate key pairs with separate keys that serve different purposes. Anyone can use World ID without providing information such as names, email addresses, phone numbers or social profiles.
When a person uses their World ID, a zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) is used to prevent third parties from knowing the person’s World ID or tracking the person across applications. ZKPs also protect the use of World ID from being tied to any biometric data or the iris code of the person.
World ID uses an open source protocol known as Semaphore that, among other applications, ensures that World ID data itself cannot be tracked to a person’s identity nor to verifications in other applications.
You can easily backup your account by selecting iCloud (iOS) or Google Drive (Android) backup in the wallet on your World App.
If you can't find the answers to your questions and are still having trouble with a specific issue, you can contact our Support Team through World App > Settings > Support > Contact Support. Leave as much detail as you can and provide screenshots to help describe your issue.
World ID is an open source, permissionless protocol that anyone can use. All the developer docs are freely available to the public. Importantly, as stated above, ZKPs are used to prevent developers—those contributing to World itself, as well as those developing third-party applications, including government applications—from knowing which World ID is yours or tracking the person across applications. They also protect the use of World ID from being tied to any biometric data or the iris code of the person.
World ID uses an open source protocol known as Semaphore that, among other applications, confirms World ID data itself cannot be tracked to a person’s identity nor to verifications in other applications.
World ID offers you unmatched control over your information, including Personal Custody.
“Personal Custody" means all information generated at the Orb when you verify your World ID (images, metadata and derived data, including the iris code) is held on your device. And neither World Foundation nor Tools for Humanity can decrypt the encrypted files when they are passing through their servers to arrive at your phone. The system has been designed to keep your data secure even in the case your phone gets compromised.
World App
World App is an app that provides simple and easy access to World Network. It is the first wallet created for World Network and gives people access to a private, decentralized digital identity through World ID and access to decentralized finance through cryptocurrencies.
World App was developed and is operated by Tools for Humanity, the same technology company that developed the Orb—a privacy-preserving device that verifies World IDs for humans.
With World App, anyone can sign up for a verified World ID at an Orb and then use it to seamlessly verify actions with their World ID (such as signing in to websites, apps and crypto dapps) without sharing personal data like names or email addresses.
World App’s self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet also gives people access to decentralized finance. Individuals can use it to save, send, deposit and withdraw cryptocurrencies. This is made possible in part through reputable services providers, like centralized exchanges and crypto payment processors who make World App available for their platforms.
World App is designed to be used by everyone.
World ID holders can enjoy gas-free transactions on World App with a user experience that emphasizes simplicity and is intuitive for those who may never have engaged with crypto. Instead of including every advanced crypto functionality, World App keeps its UX approachable and intuitive for every human by showing users only the parts of the Ethereum and World Network ecosystems that are likely to be most helpful in their everyday lives.
At around 18MB, the native iOS and Android apps are significantly smaller than the industry average. To maximize inclusivity, they’re localized to multiple languages and support most active smartphones in the world (98.2% of Androids and 94.5% of iPhones), including some more than 10 years old.
World App leverages the composability of Ethereum, via the Optimism mainnet, to mix and match some of the best, most trusted open protocols and APIs into a single, easy-to-use app.
For example, World App wallets use account abstraction through SAFE contracts to increase security and enable gasless transactions. ENS usernames support friendly and easy peer-to-peer payments. Where available, swapping WBTC and WETH for a bridged version of Circle's USDC via the Uniswap protocol will enable users around the world to have always-on access to a fully-backed digital dollar. Frictionless fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-fiat exchange in many countries is provided by licensed or registered partners around the world, including Ramp Network.
Live support is available within Settings > Support of World App. In case you are having trouble reaching the Settings tab, simply shake your device a few times and then select Report a Problem. You can also visit the World App Help Center at any time to find answers to commonly asked questions.
The Orb
The Orb, developed by Tools for Humanity, is an open source device that verifies you are a unique human..
The Orb provides a secure way of reliably doing this at a scale capable of supporting billions of individuals while also preserving privacy. By taking an image of your face and eyes (which are deleted by default once the Orb sends them to the user’s device), the Orb can verify your World ID. This is a necessary and integral part of World Network to ensure no one signs up for an Orb verified World ID twice.
Additional information about the Orb can be found on the blog here.
The Orb is used to verify a person’s humanness and uniqueness as part of the World ID protocol. It does this by first ensuring the person standing in front of it is a human. Then an image of the eye is converted into an iris code, which is a digital representation of the most important features of the texture of the iris. Subsequently, all images and image derivatives are packaged, encrypted and “signed” by the Orb to ensure authenticity and security, then sent to the user’s phone through the Orb backend server (importantly the backend cannot decrypt the data). All images are then deleted from the Orb. To prioritize privacy, all of the humanness verification occurs on the Orb itself without sending data to the Orb backend.
Anyone can verify their humanness at an Orb without providing information such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, social profiles, etc.
Not all biometrics are the same, and their utility can vary widely based on things like entropy and reliability at scale. Iris biometrics are also particularly well-suited to the project because of their privacy preserving nature. Specifically, because irises have more unique details than fingerprints and faces and are less susceptible to change based on external factors, iris biometrics were identified as the most privacy-preserving and fraud-resistant way to verify personhood and uniqueness. Further, it is much easier to steal and fake someone’s fingerprint than it is to steal someone’s iris pattern.
No. The Orb only takes a photograph of a user’s face and eyes. In addition, the Orb complies with the specifications set forth in international standards which also includes eye safety (IEC-62741).
The technology the Orb uses to verify uniqueness and humanness is open to the public for review and input. World Network (including World Foundation) will continue working to ensure safety and privacy are at the center of all advancements.
Orbs are available globally. Download World App and find an Orb location near you https://worldcoin.org/find-orb.
Privacy is the bedrock of World Network. It has built a robust, uncompromising privacy program to provide verified humans access to goods and services through the use of privacy-preserving humanness attestations. All images and image derivatives are packaged, encrypted and signed by the Orb to ensure authenticity and security, then sent to the user’s phone through the Orb backend server (importantly the backend cannot decrypt the data). All images are then deleted from the Orb.
All that remains is a persistently encrypted iris code, a mathematical representation of the texture of the iris that is not linked to an individual’s wallet or World App account. Specifically, the iris code is split into multiple different secret shares that are stored and encrypted across multiple secure databases (read more about AMPC in the blog post).
No. The Orb takes images of a person's face and eyes to ensure humanness and uniqueness. These images are not stored on the Orb but sent to the user’s device.
All that remains is a persistently encrypted iris code, a mathematical representation of the texture of the iris that is not linked to an individual’s wallet or World App account. Specifically, the iris code is split into multiple different secret shares that are stored and encrypted across multiple secure databases.
The Orb is equipped with a powerful computing unit able to run several neural networks concurrently in real-time. This enables it to validate a person’s humanness locally on the device without needing to process unencrypted images on the Orb backend.
Similarly, a person’s iris code (a mathematical representation of the iris texture) is generated locally on the Orb as well and compared against other iris code without decrypting them. Each iris code is split into multiple different secret shares that are stored and encrypted across multiple secure databases (read more about AMPC).
Subsequently, all images and image derivatives are packaged, encrypted and signed by the Orb to ensure authenticity and security, then sent to the user’s phone through the Orb backend server (importantly the backend cannot decrypt the data). All images are then deleted from the Orb. More details on the iris code can be found in the technical implementation documentation of the Whitepaper
In line with World Network’s commitment to privacy protection, the Orb has robust security features to prevent spoofing, tampering or hacking.
Each Orb is provisioned with a private key, which is stored in secure hardware, that authenticates the Orb and signs important messages. Fraud prevention algorithms based on multispectral sensors run locally on the device for maximum privacy. Additionally, a hacker team supporting World Network is continuously testing the device and several teams are working to further increase the security of the Orb every day.
Yes. World Network is committed to open sourcing as much of its technology as possible and full decentralization of the network. This is done not only for transparency and security, but to enable other teams that want to build devices for World Network in the future.
As an important step, all relevant hardware-related engineering files for the Orb’s current version have been released in a GitHub repository. You can download Eagle (PCBs) to view the files and use Autodesk’s CAD viewers for free.
All files are published under the World Network Responsible Use License, which is based on the MIT Open Source License and inspired by Uniswap’s BSL and Electric Coin Co.’s BOSL. The license balances transparency and decentralization while preventing capture and reducing the risk that World technology could be used in harmful ways. The firmware will also, whenever possible without compromising security, be open sourced or released under the Responsible Use License in the future.
No. In countries where World App is available, it is free to use and does not require a verified World ID.
Yes. World Operators have worked via both in-app and in-person attestations to ensure that only individuals 18+ have access to World Network.
World Operations
Orbs are available globally. Download World App (link to pop up) and find an Orb location near you.
World Operators operate Orbs globally and can earn WLD tokens by introducing World to their communities and helping people verify their World ID via the Orb. Operators are not employees of World Foundation or Tools for Humanity and run their operations independently while being expected to follow a strict Code of Conduct that emphasizes complying with laws and protecting the public.
Learn more about World Operators
World Operator teams may be seen in places you frequent. These individuals facilitate the World ID verification process by helping users download World App, assisting in account set up, verifying individuals for uniqueness via the Orb and providing educational resources. World also provides 24/7 support to users through an online help center and live customer support agents via World App (Settings > Support > Contact Support).
Community Operators manage self-serve Orbs in their communities so that everyone can benefit from World. Community Operators operate individually without any formal locations, whereas World Operators may have several locations and teams.
World is for every human. The network was created to give everyone access to the global economy and it operates in a wide range of countries across five continents. Such diversity is important because, in order to equally serve as many people as possible, the technology must be able to work even in remote and often underserved locations.
Data Privacy & Compliance
The Orb is used to verify a person’s humanness and uniqueness as part of the World ID protocol. It does this by first ensuring the person standing in front of it is a human. Then, an image of the eye is converted into an iris code, which is a digital representation of the most important features of the texture of the iris. Subsequently, all images and image derivatives are packaged, encrypted and “signed” by the Orb to ensure authenticity and security, then sent to the user’s phone through the Orb backend server (importantly the backend cannot decrypt the data). All images are then deleted from the Orb. To prioritize privacy, all of the humanness verification occurs on the Orb itself without sending data to the Orb backend.
Anyone can verify their humanness at an Orb without providing information such as names, email addresses, phone numbers or social profiles.
The Orb-verification process is only intended to verify an individual’s uniqueness (i.e., that they have not previously verified their unique humanness at an Orb for their World ID).
World users may choose to share additional data, but this is never required. As an example, a user may provide their email address to sign up for the newsletter.
Importantly, World Foundation and contributor company Tools for Humanity do not and never will sell anyone’s personal data, including biometric data.
To learn more about the approach to data collection, handling and privacy, visit the privacy page and/or the blog.
No. World Foundation and contributor company Tools for Humanity have not and never will share any personal data (including biometric data) with anyone who is not working on or assisting with World Network, unless required to do so by law. Read more about World’s commitments to privacy in the Privacy Notice and blog.
No. World Foundation and contributor company Tools for Humanity never have and never will sell any personal data (including biometric data). Read more about World Network’s approach to data collection, handling and privacy in the Privacy Notice and blog.
Yes. You can delete your profile data at any time. To do so, navigate to Settings > Security & Privacy > Data Requests. Keep in mind that clearing your profile is a permanent action and you will not be able to recover the deleted information.
Yes. Any personal data shared with World Network is encrypted in transit and at rest. Read more about World Network’s approach to data collection, handling and privacy in the Privacy Notice.
Before Orb verifications are conducted in any country, local legal counsel is engaged to review World Network and provide advice. The review is comprehensive, covering data protection and cryptocurrency regulations, among other topics like labor, hardware certifications, marketing and consumer protection. This information is used to tailor verification operations to local laws.
World Foundation and contributor team at Tools for Humanity (TFH) are deeply committed to working with regulatory bodies globally to ensure that World continues to meet regulatory requirements and that the public is provided a safe, secure and transparent service.
As part of this commitment, TFH engages deeply with local laws well before the first Orb arrives in a country, working closely with elected officials, third parties and relevant associations to ensure full visibility into World Network, World Foundation and TFH.
World Network is fully compliant with Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and designed for compliance with all laws and regulations governing biometric data collection and data transfer in the countries where it is available. Biometric data is never collected from any user without that user’s explicit consent. World’s Biometric Data Consent Form clearly describes its purposes in this area. Further, minors are not allowed to participate in the project. More details can be found in World Terms of Use.
In the European Union, Tools for Humanity and World Foundation are under the supervision of the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (Bayerisches Landesamt für Datenschutz). Read more about the approach to data collection, handling and privacy in the Privacy Notice and the blog.
World is not a Virtual Asset Service Provider (“VASP”) or another similar classification. When a user downloads World App and creates an account, they are provided with a self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet. As a self-custodial wallet provider, Tools for Humanity does not hold custody of any crypto assets or funds and does not provide exchange services.
Additional privacy resources can be found at the following links:
A more comprehensive understanding of all aspects of World can be found in the Whitepaper.
Other
Yes, World ID and the related verification process are available in the United States. The Worldcoin token is not available in the United States or to US persons.
World App, developed and designed by Tools for Humanity, is also available in the United States.
World is a decentralized open source protocol supported by a global community of developers, economists and technologists committed to expanding participation in and access to, the global digital economy. It is a public network that can be owned by everyone.
World Foundation (Foundation), for its part, is the initial steward of the protocol. Its mandate is to support and grow World Network self-sufficiency. It does this by facilitating decentralization over time, consistent with World’s mission and commitments. In practical terms, the Foundation may contribute by defining protocol governance, token mechanisms, grant programs, community affairs and more. The Foundation provides direction and oversight for the services Tools for Humanity (TFH) is performing in relation to the protocol.
Tools for Humanity (TFH) is a global technology company established to accelerate the transition towards a more just economic system, with its headquarters in San Francisco and a wholly-owned subsidiary in Bavaria, Germany. TFH took the initial steps toward developing the protocol and supported its multi-year beta testing phase. It then transitioned the protocol to the independent World Foundation prior to the protocol’s launch in late July 2023. Over time, TFH will continue to develop important tools supporting World Network and beyond.
Today, TFH provides services to World Foundation. Those services include, for example, software development, hardware manufacturing and market operations logistical support. TFH is governed entirely separately from World Foundation. In addition, TFH owns and operates World App, the first World ID-compatible client application.
World is built on the Ethereum blockchain utilizing both layer 1 and layer 2 technologies for efficiency. On September 15, 2022 the Ethereum blockchain underwent “the merge,” a transition that reduced the energy used in operating the Ethereum blockchain by more than 99.95% overnight. For more information on the merge, please see Ethereum’s blog.
Because World is an open source protocol, it is supported by a global community of developers, individuals, economists and technologists. Anyone can use their skills to contribute to World, by engaging on World GitHub, becoming a World Operator or Community Operator, or later pursuing a grant from World Foundation. Individuals interested in specifically working at World Foundation or joining Tools for Humanity should visit the careers page for information regarding open positions.