World rollout in Philippines: Securing online identity
World, the largest human-centered financial and identity network, has officially launched in the Philippines, bringing its digital identity platform, World ID, to one of the most digitally engaged nations on the planet. At the center of World ID’s technology is the Orb—a polished, spherical device that uses iris recognition to verify identity, without collecting personal data.
Already embraced by more than 26 million users worldwide, World ID offers a secure, anonymous way to verify identity, aiming to usher in a new era of trust online.
Although its Philippine rollout faced early skepticism, World ID’s iris-scanning technology is often misunderstood.
In an exclusive interview with Damien Kieran, the Chief Legal and Privacy Officer at Tools For Humanity (a core contributor to the World project), deep dives into how this new technology will change the way we protect our digital identity, privacy, and security in the age of AI.
Putting humans at the center
World’s vision dates back to 2018, when Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT’s developer OpenAI, and Alex Blania, CEO of Tools For Humanity, foresaw the growing role of AI and its implications for humanity.
“Sam saw what was coming. He realized we’d need tools to keep humans grounded in an AI-driven world,” Kieran shares. “It’s like when cars were first invented. We needed seatbelts, traffic lights, and roads. That’s what World ID is—basic infrastructure for digital life.”
“Our goal is to build the world’s largest network of verified humans… and restore trust in online interactions,” says Kieran, “Imagine using WhatsApp without spammy messages. Imagine using Tinder, but knowing the person you’re talking to isn’t trying to catfish you. So how do we bring trust into these digital spaces? That’s exactly what World ID is designed to do.”
It’s a timely mission as misinformation and bots erode digital trust, and the question becomes increasingly urgent: How do we know what’s real online?
Drawing from his experience at Twitter (now X), Kieran reflects, “Even the check mark couldn’t guarantee someone was human. With World ID, we’re reintroducing that layer of trust.”
The technology behind the Orb
At the core of World’s verification system is the Orb, a futuristic spherical device that uses iris recognition to confirm each user’s uniqueness, designed around making people feel in control of their data, their interactions, and their place online.
Innovated by renowned industrial designer Thomas Meyerhoffer, the sleek Orb is a biometric imaging device tilted to mirror the Earth’s axis, at the same inclination of the Earth and the sun. On the design, Kieran shares, “The orb is really just designed to make sure that we can take photos at a very detailed resolution under infrared light or multispectral lighting, so that we can actually identify the unique pattern in your eye… We could have made it boring, but no one writes about boring.”
The built-in privacy of World ID
On why World ID uses iris recognition, Kieran is quick to explain the logic, “Faces can be deepfaked. Fingerprints can be lifted off glass. DNA is reliable but hard to scale. Iris patterns, though, are incredibly distinct, even across 8 billion people.”
The technology balances reliability and usability. “You can build a camera and take it anywhere. It’s far easier than setting up DNA kits,” he notes.
Unlike conventional ID systems, World ID doesn’t store any personal information, either.
“There’s a neural network—an AI—that generates what’s called an iris code from a photo of your eyes,” Kieran explains. “It’s a long, unique string of numbers that proves you’re a unique human being.”
That code, along with the photos, is then encrypted and stored directly on your phone, not on the Orb or any company server. “As soon as they’re stored on your phone, all of the data is deleted from the orb,” he adds. “The entire process takes just 10 to 12 seconds.”
From there, the anonymized iris code is shared with independent third-party databases, like those at UC Berkeley in the USA and FAU University in Germany. These institutions help verify uniqueness as part of the network but have no access to any identifying information, like your name or address.
All this is made possible by secure multi-party computation, a technique that ensures user anonymity even during verification.
“We don’t keep any personal data,” Kieran emphasizes, “We don’t want anybody else to be able to access your personal data. We don’t want anybody to be able to sell it or to access it in the future.”
Real-world use
While still in the early stages of the rollout, World ID is far from a theoretical type of technology. It’s already being integrated across popular platforms like Reddit, Okta, Shopify, and Discord, giving a glimpse of how verified digital identity is on its way to transform the way we use the internet, from online dating to e-commerce.
One of the most attention-grabbing rollouts so far is Tinder, which has experienced an uptake in “catfishing” over the years.
“Verifying your identity on Tinder with World ID means proving you’re real, and the age you say you are,” Kieran explains. “Your profile gets a verification badge, and it ensures that the face in the photo is really yours.”
Why the Philippines matters
The decision to launch World ID in the Philippines was intentional. “It’s a hyper-online population,” says Kieran. “We’ve spent months working with local governments, educating communities, and refining how we communicate what World is and isn’t.”
While currently available for verification in V-mall in Greenhills, San Juan, initial testing in areas like Bulacan have already helped shape the user onboarding process. World also has plans to expand verification locations to Gateway Mall in Quezon City and The Marketplace in Mandaluyong.
Verification is free and simple, too. Anyone can download the app, book an appointment slot at a verification site, learn about the World project, and get verified in seconds.
Addressing skepticism with transparency
Kieran acknowledges that new technologies often spark skepticism.
“It’s normal. Big shifts always bring questions. And that’s good,” he says. “But what’s critical is that people get clear, accurate information.”
Importantly, World operates as a nonprofit protocol, with no cost for verification. Meanwhile, Tools For Humanity builds the infrastructure. “We’re not trying to profit from identity,” he clarifies. “The more people join, the more valuable it becomes for everyone.”
Kieran also cites his personal experience, “I’ve worked at Google, Twitter, and I’ve seen the power, and the problems, of tech up close. What I’ve learned is that your data shouldn’t be free for anyone to exploit… People should own their identity. They should feel safe online. And that’s what we’re trying to make possible.”
As World continues its global rollout, the Philippines is a key testbed for how digital identity can function in real-world, high-usage environments.
With early verification hubs in Bulacan, San Juan, and Quezon City, and Mandaluyong the launch raises urgent questions about how authenticity is defined online, especially in a digital landscape increasingly shaped by bots, deepfakes, and misinformation.
World ID is proposing a system where proving you’re human is not intrusive or exploitative, but necessary, and on your terms.
