Austria adopts the Worldcoin digital ID verification, offering Vianna residents access to the World ID system with numerous locations within the city.
The World Foundation has announced the successful launch of Digital ID issuance in Austria which adds another European location to its digital identity verification network.
The Digital ID is available after July 31 in Austria, where people above the age of 18 can verify their through different locations in the city and join a network of over 6.3 million users globally.
Worldcoin’s Presence in Europe
A Germany-based company named Tools for Humanity, operating WorldCoin is collaborating with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The project operated with Austria’s data protection authority to discuss privacy and security concerns. The company highlighted that World ID verification only asks for an iris scan and no other personal data.
The GM at Tools for Humanity, Friederike Lumbroso-Baumgartner stated that the vision of the project is to expand its reach rapidly.
“Our goal is to enable as many people as possible to obtain the World ID quickly.”
The organization also stated that the Austrians interested in the program can also become ambassadors to expand awareness regarding the project.
The launch in Austria comes after a similar launch of the project in Germany. This happened following an investigation by the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA) into Worldcoin’s biometric data collection.
The company sees criticism from different countries for the illegal collection of data, including Spain, where the agencies paused the working of the company from June 4 until the end of 2024, or until the final report of the investigation.
Mixed Reactions
Besides Spain‘s agencies, Hong Kong authorities also warned Worldcoin to stop its operations in the country. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data alleged that the company is violating personal data and privacy ordinances.
In the meantime, the company is trying to gain the confidence of local privacy law authorities to operate smoothly. In May the company upgraded their security system and allowed users to delete their old iris codes.
However, Worldcoin has been accused of price manipulation and a scam involving its Worldcoin (WLD) token. The company denies any insider trading or manipulation and enjoyed its first anniversary on July 23, 2024.
