WORLDCOIN-FOUNDATION
15.5.2024 15:03:34 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
The Worldcoin Foundation today announced it launched and is open sourcing a novel secure multi-party computation (SMPC) system. The system, available now in a GitHub repository for any organization to use, aims to set a new standard for data protection, including the protection of biometric data. The Worldcoin Foundation also announced that, after the migration of iris codes to the new SMPC system, the previous uniqueness-checking system, including iris codes, was securely deleted.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240515285506/en/
Worldcoin Foundation Launches, Open Sources "Perfect Secrecy" SMPC System to Help Organizations Strengthen Biometric Data Security Protections (Graphic: Business Wire)
Biometric authentication use increases as data breach frequency and impact rise
Organizations in the private and public sector increasingly require and use consumers’ biometric data for everyday services and activities, from building access and airport security to logging into healthcare and financial services apps. Underscoring the increase, a Fortune Business Insights report projected the global biometric system market size to reach $76.70 billion USD in 2029, 2.5x its total of $30.77 billion in 2022.
Meanwhile, research from MIT Professor Stuart Madnick indicates a 20% increase in data breaches from 2022 to 2023 while globally the number of victims of such breaches doubled over the same time period.
The convergence of these trends suggests a need to further advance data protection technologies. While Worldcoin is neither an authentication nor an identification use case for biometrics (the Worldcoin Foundation does not know the identity of their users), the Foundation’s new open source SMPC system can serve as a building block to set a new standard in biometric data security.
Worldcoin Foundation’s SMPC system
SMPC has been lauded by privacy and security experts alike. It can be thought of as taking one secret and sharing it in multiple parts across different parties for increased protection. Importantly, none of the individual parts alone say anything about the original secret, thus making it impossible for any individual party to decrypt the secret.
This SMPC approach demonstrates perfect information-theoretic security, meaning it is effective even against quantum-computing. SMPC systems have generally been too resource-intensive to be effectively used for large complex computations. This is why, despite their impressive privacy protective qualities, they have not yet seen extensive use in biometric template protection.
The Worldcoin Foundation, along with contributor-technologists from TACEO and Tools for Humanity, have successfully architected a new implementation of SMPC to address the scale and cost constraints that have previously hindered others. The new SMPC system, which encrypts iris codes into secret shares held by multiple parties, enabled the Worldcoin Foundation to permanently delete iris codes generated through its previous uniqueness-checking system.
“The community supporting Worldcoin will never stop developing, testing and deploying the most advanced technologies focusing on security, privacy and data protection as it works to improve trust online and increase access to the global economy,” said Jannick Preiwisch, Data Protection Officer of the Worldcoin Foundation. “Implementation of the new SMPC system enabled the Worldcoin Foundation to delete old iris codes by permanently encrypting them to SMPC shares that by themselves cannot be related to an identified person. The development of this new system demonstrates an unparalleled commitment to further compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation and other data protection regimes across the world. It also complements advancements aimed at providing consumers increased choice and control over their data including personal custody and the ability to unverify their World IDs.”
About the Worldcoin Foundation
The Worldcoin Foundation, a steward of the Worldcoin protocol, aims to realize more inclusive, fair and just institutions of governance and of the global digital economy.
About the Worldcoin Protocol
The Worldcoin protocol is intended to be the world’s largest, most inclusive identity and financial public utility and to be accessible by everyone. Worldcoin was originally conceived by Sam Altman, Alex Blania and Max Novendstern. The Worldcoin protocol is designed to empower individuals and organizations around the world with the tools they need to participate in the digital economy and advance humanity's progress. Find out more about Worldcoin at www.worldcoin.org, on Twitter/X, Discord, YouTube and Telegram.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240515285506/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Mobix Labs to Acquire U.S. Rare Earth and Critical Minerals Company Powering Defense and National Security14.5.2026 14:01:00 CEST | Press release
Proposed Acquisition Would Position Mobix Labs Inside Strategic U.S. Supply Chains Powering Defense, National Security, and AI Infrastructure Mobix Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOBX) today announced it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to acquire Special Project Delivery LLC ("SPD"), a strategic infrastructure platform building sovereign U.S. supply chains for rare earth elements, critical minerals, and energy storage. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260514342224/en/ U.S.A F-35 Lightning II The proposed acquisition would expand Mobix Labs — already a supplier to advanced U.S. and allied defense and aerospace systems — directly into one of the world's most strategically important industrial sectors. Key Facts at a Glance~418 kilogramsof rare earth materials are estimated to be used in each F-35 Lightning II. ~4,500 kilogramsof rare earth materials are estimated to be used in each Virginia-class nuclear submarine
Enterprise AI Hits the Wall: NTT DATA Research Reveals Growing Privacy and Sovereignty Barriers14.5.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
Demands for privacy and sovereignty expose limits of architectures built for centralized and borderless data flows. Data jurisdiction has become a core design parameter, shifting away from globally integrated systems to regionally bounded architectures. Organizations that redesign early are gaining a measurable edge in AI readiness and scale. NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, today released new research showing that enterprise AI is outgrowing the architecture and infrastructure beneath it as data privacy and sovereignty requirements tighten. The research finds a widening split between enterprises that are redesigning AI for control, locality and security, and organizations still layering AI into environments that were not built to support these requirements. For years, enterprise architecture moved data across systems, clouds, applications and borders with increasing speed and efficiency. AI is exposing the limits of that model. Sensitive data
Mary Kay Launches Global Social Squad Program to Empower the Next Generation of Digital Beauty Leaders14.5.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
A Global Program Connecting 70+ Emerging Creators Among Independent Beauty Consultants with Digital Education, Mentorship, And Real‑World Beauty Brand Experience. Mary Kay Inc., a global leader in beauty and entrepreneurship, announces the launch of its Global Social Squad (GSS) Pilot Program – a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants (IBCs) as dynamic digital brand advocates and next-generation social media storytellers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260514978222/en/ The Global Social Squad ignites a diverse and talented group of 73 Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants with representation across 15 markets in four regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Europe. These digital leaders create engaging, high-quality content, participate in global campaign activations, and share practical social media strategies with their communities and other I
Vista Equity Partners Establishes Abu Dhabi Office14.5.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
Securing Full Regulatory Authorization from ADGM deepens Vista’s commitment to the Middle East and expands the firm’s global platform for enterprise software investing Vista Equity Partners (“Vista”), a global technology investor that specializes in enterprise software, today announced the opening of its new office in Abu Dhabi within ADGM, the city’s international financial center. VEPM Middle East Limited has received full authorization from ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), enabling the firm to advise on investments and arrange deals in investments across the region. The Abu Dhabi office reflects Vista’s expanded strategic presence in the Middle East and the region’s increasingly central role in global technology investment and innovation. Established in 2013, ADGM has emerged as one of the world’s leading financial centers, connecting global investors with regional opportunities. Vista joins a growing community of leading global investment firms that have estab
Eighteen48 Partners Announces First Close of Eighteen48 Private Equity Fund I at €175 million14.5.2026 13:56:00 CEST | Press release
Eighteen48 Partners today announced the first close of Eighteen48 Private Equity Fund I (the “Fund”) at €175 million. The Fund, which is targeting €350 million, is focused on European middle-market buyout transactions sourced through Independent Sponsors. Since 2020 Eighteen48 Partners have deployed more than €200 million into this strategy, which aims to provide investors with diversified exposure to off-market sourced transactions. The first close was supported by significant re-up commitments from Eighteen48 clients as well as commitments from institutions, family offices and UHNWs, underscoring the strength of the firm’s platform, track record and experience as well as growing momentum in the Independent Sponsor space. Julien Sevaux, Founding Partner and CEO, commented: “We are increasingly excited by the opportunity in the growing independent sponsor segment of European private equity - a corner of the market we believe remains largely overlooked by investors yet offers compelling
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom