Reddit, one of the world’s most popular social discussion platforms that allows users to post content, comment and vote based on their interests, is considering the integration of World ID: an identity verification system based on iris scanning via the Orb device, developed by Worldcoin, whose parent company was co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
According to two sources close to the matter, World ID may soon represent a new method of verifying the unique identity of Reddit users while maintaining anonymity on the platform.
The Orb system scans the iris, which is considered a unique biomarker similar to a fingerprint. From this scan, an encrypted representation is generated, which is then fragmented and distributed to servers in different parts of the world. Following the procedure, each user receives a unique World ID, which is stored in a local encrypted vault on their smartphone. This system provides a high level of security, making any hacking attempt by hackers extremely difficult.
This possible choice on Reddit’s part reflects the growing interest in new identity verification technologies, which have become increasingly relevant in a context where artificial intelligence is generating an increasing amount of inauthentic content online. Partly for this reason, governments around the world are working on new age-verification laws with the goal of limiting access to social media by minors.
According to many experts in the field, a new urgency is now evident: to develop systems that can verify certain information about users while providing privacy and anonymity – features increasingly demanded by modern Web users.
