Worldcoin’s iris scan risks have triggered some major security warnings from China’s Ministry of State Security. They’re claiming that Sam Altman’s biometric cryptocurrency project poses some serious threats to national security. Interesting to hear this from the Chinese government, right? I though so too. The Chinese authorities are warning that foreign entities collecting iris data from citizens in exchange for crypto rewards are transferring this sensitive biometric information overseas, which is raising red flags.
China Warns of Security Risks From Global Iris Scan Collection Linked to Crypto Rewards.
— TheCryptoBasic (@thecryptobasic) August 6, 2025
China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has issued a public warning about a foreign initiative offering crypto in exchange for users’ iris scans, with the biometric data then reportedly… pic.twitter.com/zfktDna3KI
Worldcoin Iris Scan Risks Raise China Surveillance, Privacy Alarms
China’s Ministry of State Security issued a public warning about Worldcoin iris scan risks on Wednesday through its official WeChat account, and the timing seems pretty significant. The ministry detailed how foreign intelligence agencies are seeking to obtain crypto biometric data from Chinese citizens to forge false identities and infiltrate sensitive workplaces.
The Chinese Ministry of State Security stated:
“A foreign company used the issuance of cryptocurrency tokens as a pretext to scan and collect iris data from users worldwide, posing a threat to personal information security and even national security.”
The MSS also warned that documented cases reveal a foreign company has exploited the lure of cryptocurrency token distributions to systematically scan and collect users’ iris data on a global scale. The authority noted that the company’s subsequent transfer of these data sources “poses threats to both individual privacy and national security.”
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Sam Altman Worldcoin Project Matches Security Warning
The Chinese security ministry described a case involving Worldcoin iris scan risks where a foreign project offered cryptocurrency tokens in return for iris scans, with data reportedly being sent overseas. While not explicitly naming the entity, the description closely matches Sam Altman Worldcoin, which is the global identity initiative that was cofounded by the OpenAI CEO.
The MSS warned about China crypto surveillance concerns, noting that iris patterns are actually valuable to criminals due to their stability and difficulty to replicate. These qualities make iris data particularly attractive for high-level security access and identity theft schemes, which is concerning.
According to the ministry, such practices pose serious risks and threats to both personal privacy and national security. The alert points to past examples where foreign actors collected iris and facial data under the guise of identity verification or token distribution, then transferred that data for unknown purposes.
Worldcoin Data Privacy Concerns Spread Globally
Beyond China’s crypto surveillance warnings, Worldcoin data privacy issues have triggered regulatory scrutiny in Germany, France, and also Kenya. Indonesian authorities suspended World’s operating permit in May following some suspicious activity reports.
A Tools for Humanity spokesperson had this to say on the topic:
“World has voluntarily paused its proof of human verification services in Indonesia and is seeking clarification on the terms of the relevant licenses and permits.”
The MSS advised citizens to carefully review how biometric service providers store and process crypto biometric data, emphasizing that informed vigilance prevents misuse of personal identifiers. This comes as Sam Altman’s Worldcoin operations and similar Worldcoin data privacy-sensitive projects continue expanding globally, raising more questions about oversight.
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