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Worldcoin, a leading digital currency platform, has unveiled its latest innovation: “World ID 2.0”. This upgraded version heralds a significant expansion in integration capabilities and now includes major platforms such as Shopify, Mercado Libre, Reddit, Minecraft, and Telegram. This development allows users to seamlessly affirm their humanity in these diverse online spaces.
The announcement, made on Dec. 12, highlighted the wide scope of World ID’s app integrations, complementing an existing list that already includes Discord, Talent Protocol, and Okta’s Auth0. With this update iteration, app developers gain more flexibility by offering different levels of authentication, from a lighter “Lite” mode to a strong “Max” mode.
Worldcoin’s move to introduce multiple levels of authentication is aimed at meeting different security needs in different applications. This spectrum enables tailored approaches and ensures that users share only the necessary information. For example, strict security-oriented applications may mandate a GoI-verified ID, while more convenience-oriented applications may require a simpler universal “Device Auth” identifier associated with the user’s mobile device.
The touted benefits of these new features revolve around combating the losses retailers incur due to bots and fraudulent activity. Citing a CNBC report, Worldcoin estimated a staggering $100 billion in annual losses attributable to “reverse fraud, bots, and coupon stacking.” By providing advanced authentication methods, World ID 2.0 aims to reduce such losses without the need to expose users’ personal information to the applications they engage with.
Worldcoin’s initial launch in July sparked controversy, primarily due to its highest level of security authentication, which includes scanning the user’s iris and creating a zero-knowledge certificate, raising concerns about potential biometric data leaks. The company has vehemently defended its approach, claiming that it only stores iris scan evidence and refuses to store the scan itself.
The integration of World ID 2.0 into these major platforms represents an important step toward widespread adoption, providing more advanced security options while prioritizing user privacy in an increasingly digital landscape.
