Thailand has ordered World, the digital identity project backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, to halt operations and delete all user identification data after authorities cited violations of local data protection laws. The move affects approximately 1.2 million iris scans collected from Thai users and marks the latest regulatory challenge for the controversial World platform. Thai authorities act on data concerns The suspension follows a raid on one of World’s iris scanning locations in October amid allegations of potential digital asset law violations. The Economic and Social Development Board, Thailand’s strategic planning agency, has instructed World to remove all biometric data gathered through its iris scanning program. The authorities cited breaches of the Personal Data Protection Act, which governs the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. According to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society , the company’s practice of exchanging iris scans for Worldcoin (WLD) tokens violated national data protection standards. World Thailand, represented locally by TIDC Worldverse, confirmed that it had paused verification activities and removed Thailand from the list of available Orb locations, which are the devices used to capture iris scans and generate anonymised iris codes. Despite halting operations, World did not admit to any wrongdoing. The company has emphasised that it has complied with local regulations and maintained open communication with regulators. It has also highlighted the impact on millions of Thai users who rely on World’s technology to protect against identity theft, scams, and AI-driven fraud. World Thailand @WorldOfficialTH · Follow ประกาศสำคัญจาก World ประเทศไทย 5:28 am · 24 Nov 2025 17 Reply Copy link Read more on Twitter Regulatory challenges mounting worldwide for World Thailand is not alone in cracking down on the World project. Colombia recently ordered the deletion of biometric data and a suspension of operations on November 22, 2025, while the Philippines issued similar restrictions. Indonesia, Germany, Kenya , and Brazil have also raised concerns about user privacy, citing potential risks associated with storing biometric data. World, formerly Worldcoin, has consistently argued that its iris scans are not stored on the Orb devices themselves and that user data is anonymised and protected against breaches. These regulatory pressures have a direct effect on the company’s network growth and valuation. Operational restrictions limit the number of verifications and slow the adoption of World ID, which in turn affects the distribution of WLD tokens. Worldcoin (WLD) token price reaction Historical data indicate that similar government interventions often correlate with immediate price declines for the token, and it was not different this time. Immediately, Thailand authorities issued the directive, WLD’s price dropped to an intraday low of $0.6172 before slightly recovering to around $0.6192. Notably, Worldcoin (WLD) has been under prolonged bear pressure that has caused its value to drop by almost 33% over the past year month. Adding to the bear pressure, 37 million WLD tokens, valued at around $23 million, were released as part of a scheduled token unlock on November 22, 2025, increasing circulating supply and contributing to sell pressure. On-chain data shows that a significant portion of these unlocked tokens quickly moved to exchanges, reflecting immediate market absorption. Although past trends suggest the possibility of short-term rebounds, the broader context of regulatory crackdowns, rising supply, and market volatility paints a cautious outlook for investors. Traders should watch the immediate support at $0.573, which, if breached, could lead to further decline. The post Thailand asks Worldcoin to suspend operations and delete all user data appeared first on Invezz
