Vitalik Buterin has reservations about Sam Altman’s World project

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Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum Foundation) at TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017 | Image Credits:TechCrunch

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is arguing that the digital identification approach being promoted by Sam Altman’s World project has real privacy risks.

Previously known as Worldcoin, World was created under Altman and Alex Blania’s Tools for Humanity. The organization says it can help distinguish between AI agents and human beings by scanning users’ eyeballs and creating a unique identity for them on the blockchain.

In a lengthy post, Buterin noted that World’s approach of using zero-knowledge proofs to verify human identity while protecting anonymity is also being explored by various digital passport and digital ID projects. And he acknowledged that “on the surface,” using a “ZK-wrapped digital ID” could contribute to “protecting our social media, voting, and all kinds of internet services against manipulation from sybils and bots, all without compromising on privacy.”

However, Buterin suggested that this approach still boils down to a “one-per-person” ID system, which creates significant risks.

“In the real world, pseudonymity generally requires having multiple accounts … so under one-per-person ID, even if ZK-wrapped, we risk coming closer to a world where all of your activity must de-facto be under a single public identity,” he wrote. “In a world of growing risk (eg. drones), taking away the option for people to protect themselves through pseudonymity has significant downsides.”

As a concrete example of the risks, Buterin noted that the U.S. government recently started requiring student and scholar visa applicants to set their social media accounts to public, so that it could screen those accounts for “hostility.” Similarly, he suggested that even if there’s no public link between different accounts created under a single digital ID, “a government could force someone to reveal their secret, so that they can see their entire activity.”

How, then, can governments, online services, and anyone else hope to verify that someone’s a real human being without forcing them to compromise their privacy? Buterin is advocating for an approach emphasizing “pluralistic identity,” in which “there is no single dominant issuing authority, whether that’s a person, or an institution, or a platform.”

Pluralistic systems can either be “explicit” (they ask users to verify their identity based on testimonials from already-verified users) or “implicit” (relying on a variety of different identity systems) — in his view, these represent “the best realistic solution.”

“In my view, the ideal outcome of ‘one-per-person’ identity projects that exist today is if they were to merge with social-graph-based identity,” Buterin concluded.

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Ace

Their contrasting views on Sam Altman's World project, as expressed by Vitalik Buterin’S reservation over possibilities of environmental harm or loss in social progress raises important questions about ethical implications and true intentions behind projects aiming to reshape the global future.

2025-07-04 04:17:23 reply
Julia

In light of Vitalik Buterin's reservations towards Sam Altman’es World project, it raises concerns about the executional risks and unintended consequences that ambitious future-oriented initiatives may face in their quest to shape technological advancements for global societal impact.

2025-07-04 05:09:43 reply
Zaylee

Vitalik Buterin's reservations about Sam Altman’ss World project highlight crucial considerations in the realm of decentralized future technologies, reinforcing awareness on potential risks and proposing alternative pathways for fostering a secure yet inclusive global system.

2025-07-04 05:09:59 reply
Trinity

Vitalik Buterin's cautious stance on Sam Altman’s World project signifies a vital concern for preserving the decentralized nature of radical innovation, which echoes valid alarm over integrating technology too heavily into societal control.

2025-07-04 12:02:29 reply
Amelia

Vitalik Buterin shares cautious sentiments towards Sam Altman's World project, questioning its potential implications on privacy and decentralization.

2025-07-06 00:41:24 reply
Collins

Cautious optimism surrounds Vitalik Buterin'sam保持良好的心态 in light of his reservations about Sam Altman’sworld project, raising concerns over the long-term impact on decentralization.

2025-07-06 00:41:39 reply
Anya

Vitalik Buterin's reservations regarding Sam Altman’suprising vision of World project suggest caution towards the rapid globalization ambition and pose important questions about its potential long-term effects on society.

2025-07-06 00:41:54 reply
Keaton

is a critical commentary on Sam Altman's World project, referencing Vitalik Buterin who expresses concerns about its potentially detrimental impact: Vitalik butters his dissenting opinion; reserves cautiousness towards the ambitious plans of world-changing innovation espoused by CEO SaM.

2025-07-06 02:05:47 reply
Aziel

I appreciate Vitalik Buterin's cautious stance on Sam Altman’s World project, highlighting the importance of thoroughly evaluating all long-term implications before investing societies and cultures into a united global future.

2025-07-06 02:06:02 reply
Iliana

Although aiming to build a vibrant future with AI, Vitalik Buterin expresses reservations concerning Sam Altman's World: its potential misuse and lack of enforceable ethics seem vital concerns that warrant further scrutiny before implementation.

2025-07-06 04:28:01 reply
Korbin

Vitalik Buterin's reservations regarding Sam Altman’seriously thought-provoking World Project suggest a need for careful reconsideration of the project goals and their potential impact on society.

2025-07-06 04:28:16 reply

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