World’s one-person ID system, though ZK-wrapped, risks centralizing identity and linking all user activity to a single digital profile.
Buterin warns that restricting multiple identities could remove the internet’s pseudonymity, especially essential in growing surveillance environments.
While ZK tech helps distinguish humans from bots, Buterin urges adoption of decentralized, pluralistic ID frameworks with no central authority.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has expressed concerns over the rise of digital ID systems like World, warning that they may threaten online pseudonymity despite leveraging privacy-preserving technologies like zero-knowledge proofs.
Buterin Questions One-ID-Per-Person Model
Vitalik Buterin addressed the growing popularity of digital identity initiatives in a recent post, pointing to World—formerly known as Worldcoin—as a case study. World has reportedly enrolled more than 13 million users and assigns a digital identity based on a biometric scan, granting individuals both a World ID and WLD token.
In a post shared on Saturday, Buterin wrote, "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 warned that such systems, while secured with zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), might compromise the ability of users to maintain multiple identities across platforms—a core feature of online pseudonymity.
The project, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and developed by Tools for Humanity, uses orbs to scan users' irises to verify their human status. Although the identity data is cryptographically protected, Buterin argues that linking activity to a singular verified ID introduces structural risks, especially in environments where privacy is crucial.
Digital ID Growth Amid Privacy Concerns
Buterin acknowledged that zero-knowledge proof-based systems offer substantial benefits. They help distinguish real humans from bots, reducing manipulation across digital platforms. He noted, "On the surface, widespread adoption of ZK-wrapped digital ID seems like it would be a great victory... all without compromising on privacy."
However, Buterin also underlined how rigid implementation of such systems could limit users to a single identity across the internet. He added that even with app-specific IDs, if each identity must link to a one-person rule, users would be forced into a single account model. This, he cautioned, is a departure from today’s flexibility, where users commonly manage multiple email and social media accounts.
World recently expanded into the United States and is piloting projects such as a Visa card and a Tinder integration in Japan. These developments aim to bring more transparency to digital interactions, yet they continue to face scrutiny from privacy advocates.
A Call for a Decentralized Identity Framework
Buterin proposes a shift away from centralized digital identity solutions. He recommended a pluralistic approach where no single entity has authority over identity issuance. This model, he believes, better aligns with the foundational ethos of decentralized networks and helps preserve users’ ability to act pseudonymously online.
In his conclusion, Buterin emphasized that the design and governance of digital identity systems must prioritize individual freedom and protection. While technologies like ZKPs present promising solutions, their implementation should not restrict user agency.
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