Venezuelans cross to Colombia to have their iris scanned with Worldcoin
Worldcoin offers WLD tokens for iris scanning, with additional incentives for recruiters.
Regarding iris scanning, there are doubts about whether users understand what they are giving up.
The Worldcoin cryptocurrency project, now known as World, has surpassed the social network TikTok in the ranking of most downloaded applications in Colombia, reflecting the significant interest of the inhabitants of a country that is home to almost 3 million Venezuelan migrants, the highest figure worldwide.
On the border between Venezuela and Colombia, Worldcoin has captured the attention of numerous Venezuelan citizens as a way to obtain additional income. Between 140 and 160 Venezuelans pass through this area and cross into Colombia daily through the Cúcuta border. according to NGO data Colombian-Venezuelan, dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to “walking migrants” since 2015.
Venezuela is going through a deep political and economic crisis that has intensified in recent years. Both crises are intertwined, where political instability has exacerbated the economic crisis and vice versa, creating a cycle of deterioration that deeply affects the population.
The economic crisis in Venezuela is characterized by a hyperinflation that has seen high annual rates, drastically eroding the purchasing power of citizens. So, due to a combination of factors, such as the devaluation of the national currency and the exchange gap between the official dollar and the parallel dollar, a massive migration was triggered, with millions of Venezuelans leaving the country in search of better opportunitiescontributing to one of the most significant migration crises in Latin America.
In this context, Worldcoin is capturing the interest of Venezuelans, especially in the border axis, near Cúcuta, where there are three offices dedicated to scanning irises.
As we have explained in CriptoNoticias, Worldcoin is based on the premise of gathering biometric data to create a unique financial and digital identity network for individuals. So, to do so, the project uses devices called “Orb” to scan the iris with which it captures biometric data, a procedure that has generated controversy in various parts of the world.
People who scan their irises receive a handful of WLD tokens, the asset that occupies the central role of the project. In Cúcuta, for example, A person who scans their iris receives approximately 200 thousand Colombian pesosequivalent to 50 US dollars. However, in that border city, there is also the possibility of greater profits, as some people work informally as Worldcoin recruiters.
Worldcoin rewards “recruiters”
This is what Jackson, a resident of the Venezuelan city of San Antonio del Táchira (near Cúcuta), who shared his experience. «I downloaded the app, entered my information and they gave me an appointment. I went to the office near the Plaza de Las Palomas in Cúcuta, They scanned my iris and gave me more than 200 thousand pesos«he said.
Additionally, for each person Jackson recruited for Worldcoin, he received a commission of 40 thousand pesos ($10), which ensures an additional monthly income, something that many see as an economic opportunity in times of crisis, such as the one Venezuela is facing. .
With Venezuelans handing over their biometric data in exchange for tokens, anyone can see that action as a sale, because users are exchanging something unique and personal in exchange for a financial reward.
This exchange has generated debate about the privacy and security of personal data, especially considering that Biometric data is extremely sensitive and its use could have implications in the long term for the privacy of individuals.
In several countries, questions have been raised about whether users fully understand what they are giving up in exchange for these tokens, with some even seeing this action as an organ sale.
Meanwhile, Worldcoin has faced investigations due to possible violations of personal data protection laws, but has found in Cúcuta a perfect place to advance as a project.
Cúcuta, perhaps because it is a border city, has experienced numerous challenges that could give the impression of anarchy or that “anything goes.” There are complaints about chaos, including potholes, traffic problems, homeless people, trash, and smells of human waste and marijuana.
The lack of law enforcement in certain neighborhoods is mentioned, with illegal activities such as night businesses that proliferate without municipal intervention. Perhaps an ideal location for a project does not want to be perceived by the authorities’ radar.