Sam Altman’s World expands to Indonesia

World, the digital identity and financial ecosystem by Tools for Humanity (TFH), is officially launching in Indonesia. The rollout begins on 12 February, following a press conference and public discussion by TFH and the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia on 11 February.

World, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, encompasses multiple products, including World ID, World App, World Chain, and Worldcoin. It aims to provide a secure and verifiable digital identity system through biometric verification, specifically iris scans, to distinguish humans from AI while enabling financial transactions.

Through an eyeball-scanning device called Orb, World has verified around 10.7 million people in over 20 countries, said Adrian Ludwig (pictured, second from left), chief information security officer of TFH, in the conference.

Leading the project in Indonesia is Wafa Taftazani (pictured, first from left), a serial entrepreneur behind companies such as Modal Rakyat and UpBanx, who has been appointed as general manager for TFH Indonesia.

Don't miss: Estée Lauder unleashes AI potential with Open AI's ChatGPT

TFH has been engaging with Indonesian authorities and stakeholders to explore the adoption of its technology. The company previously met with Indonesia's ministry of communication and informatics to discuss AI and digital identity initiatives. The move aligns with broader efforts by TFH to expand World's presence globally, despite facing regulatory hurdles across countries over privacy concerns.

Earlier this year, Brazil's data authority banned TFH from offering crypto compensation for iris scans. Hong Kong's privacy watchdog has also opened probe into Worldcoin over potential violations of privacy laws related to the collection and processing of sensitive personal data, and later ordered Worldcoin to cease operations.

World's launch in Indonesia follows TFH's strategic initiatives in Southeast Asia, including partnerships in Malaysia to integrate blockchain infrastructure. The company has also made acquisitions, such as the Solana-based crypto wallet Ottr, to strengthen its digital finance capabilities.

While the technology promises to enhance digital identity security and streamline transactions, it has also sparked regulatory scrutiny worldwide. The implementation of World in Indonesia will be closely watched as the country navigates its digital transformation and AI governance landscape.

In September 2023, Indonesia granted Altman its first-ever golden visa, a privilege designed for high-profile individuals with international reputation and contributions to the country. This visa allows him long-term residency and streamlined entry into Indonesia, reinforcing his growing ties with the region along with World's expansion.

Related articles:
How can OJK’s new regulation add more transparency in crypto ads?
Why OpenAI's comms strategy was a tragic fail amidst the Sam Altman ousting saga
Tiger Brokers promotes new crypto trading feature with OOH campaign