Worldcoin tokens; a gamble that Kenyans gleefully embrace or godsent free money?

Something peculiar about Kenyans is their too trusting and quick-to-like attitude for new things. In any case, Kenya ranks tops on internet penetration and uptake in Africa. It explains the people’s insatiable appetite for every trending foreign idea, technology, fashion…name it. The recent unveiling and commencement of registration for Worldcoin in Kenya has become a hot topic in the recent times. A quick search of the internet show pictures and videos of Kenyans queueing in large numbers for the iris scan. But, a realistic look at the pictures show people mainly attrated by the Worldcoin tokens issued upon iris scan.

To start off about World coin, we may begin with something closer home, cryptocurrencies. We’ve heard about cryptocs for a while now. It was first bitcoin then came altcoins by their differeent names and operations. You probbaly know Ethereum, all manner of names. So, it wasn’t surprising that the Worldcoin also popped up with a guise similar to that of cryptos and actually rewarding via cryto tokens.

One thing that makes Worldcoin a talk of town in Kenya is them collecting so sensitive personal data. Many people get concerned about what exactly such eye scans can be used for over and above what the Worldcoin project states. There’s no much apprehension about the orb used for registering humanhood of new subscribers. The sticky issue remains on data regulation and management by Worldcoin-being that its a private entity obviosuly with financial interets.

Quick information about Worldcoin

While so many people are yet to really understand many aspects of financial technology, a lot of it keeps coming which ordinarily ought to be a shock to the public. In a stark contrast, Kenyans, hard pressed by the tough economy seem determined to go for these fintech nonetheless provided there’s money in it.

Without even getting your started on the technical complexities around some of the cryptocurrencies that have been in existence for a while now operate, let’s zoom into all we know about worldcoin. 

What we so far know about worldcoin

• Worldcoin is a culmination of collaborative efforts of Sam Altman, Max Novendstern, and Alex Blania.

• Worldcoin aims to provide the most reliable human identity proof to fend off incidents of scams, bots and AI pseudos that plague progression of digital spaces.

• For each of the eye scans, a subscriber gets assigned a unique World ID. This ID is Worldcoin’s source of truth that a subscriber is actually a human and not some AI entity posing as human. 

• In a highly digitizing world of financial technology and a general move towards systems digitisation, the World ID would be used as sufficient an identity proof for third parties for completing digital transactions. 

• In retrospect and with a keen observation, Worldcoin’s primary aim is to create a highly dependable “proof of humanhood” from truly human iris. This would be act as a go to for discriminating humans from non-humans i.e. AI tools.

• To scale up adoption of iris scanning as a proof of identity, Worldcoin uses an orb that has the power of capturing finer details of the eyeball.

• The orb used by Worldcoin to scan the eyes uses invisible infrared light that picks out unique patterns in the iris as a unique identifier.  

• The project comes out as primarily a process for creating yet another cryptocurrency. But, over and abpve the creation of a new coin, the process will generate a World ID that can be used for autnetication of other digital transactions.

• The iris scan serves as a the unique primary information that anchors the World ID.
• For about 10 seconds of staring directly into the orb’s lens, it will pick out the special and unique features. When done, the orb will beep to confirm completion of the process.

Closer look

• Up until now, no scientific evidence has been made bare about any health implications of the eyeball scan. 

• Worldcoin may have great intentions to set up a proof of humanhood that helps overcome impostors and identity scams around in the world of AI.

• The backlash that Worldcoin currently experiences manifests the natural response to and apprehensions about digital transformations.

• Local regulations in many countries have not adopted quick and effective ways to tackle the forces of progressive digitisation.

• Worldcoin isn’t in itself a cryptocurrency though it rewards subscribers who take eye scans with cryptocoins.

• The World ID pegged on iris scans could be a progressive biometric data that wades off challenges brought about by AI. 

The furore, confusion and mad rush for Worldcoin by Kenyans

Up until when the government decided to suspend the activities of Worldcoin in Kenya, the hysteria about it was palpable. With a biting economy and high costs of living, Kenyans in their numbers couldn’t hold back from the long meandering queues to let their iris be scanned. Such queues were witnessed at the KICC not necessarily to give out their useful biometric data of the iris but to get the ksh. 7000 valued tokens. 

From the look of things, the government of Kenya and the data commissioner seem indifferent about how to approach the Worldcoin activities. Whether its complacency in vetting foreign entities operating in Kenya or sheer ignorance, ordinary Kenyans remain at the mercy of fate.

We’ve seen cryptocurrencies operating in Kenya and people making wealth from dealing in them. Again, we always give out our biometric data at the point of applying for some important documents like passport or visa for traveling. This means that whatever Worldcoin now does isn’t anything strange.

Iris scans any different from ordinary biometric data?

While the currently used biometric features for recognition of humans include face and fingerprints, Worldcoin seems interested in setting up yet a new one, the iris based World ID. This will instead of common biometrics trace back individuals to their scans at first instance. The project says it will not store any initial eye scans, not even as a refference point. That the evnetual World ID will provide an encrypted trace of the scanned eyes which gets deleted immediately the process ends for every person.

Although this may not be a vetted opinion, the intentions of Worldcoin could be purely to foster inclusion in the digital space. A more digital world could be all we need to move to the next phase of human evolution which may not be a bad thing anyway.

The biggest challenge with the Worldcoin which many countries currently try to get clear is how such critical data could be left in the custody of a private entity. Yes, the World ID could be the Worldcoin’s way of encrypting or lets say keeping off the iris data from direct access by third parties. However, the fact of the matter remains that such data won’t disappear completely. Somehow, the data will get stored somewhere as a reference point or primary data. 

Why have operations of Worldcoin in Kenya been suspended?

Kenyans are yet to come to terms with how some things go so awry when the government seems unresponsive. Without necessarily heaping blames and accusations on Kenyans, we can all agree that how the Shakahola situation unfolded still remains a mystery. Then now comes the World coin and the response from government representatives appears polarized. 

Just a day before the government announced a suspension of the activities of Worldcoin, long queues were witnessed at KICC as desperate Kenyans turned up for iris scans. In the eyes of many, you could see their hopelessness and a sheer rush to get the ksh. 7000 worth of tokens. Not so many of them bothered to ask why someone would reward them with free money or what the iris scanning was all about-all they did was to wait on the line, avail their eyes for scanning and get the tokens; that’s all that mattered.

According to the government and proclamations by relevant persons, the activities of World coin were suspicious and unclear. This response largely emanated from critics asking what the whole issue was about that Kenyans seemed to be falling prey to. So,it would appear to be a knee jerk reaction from the government.

Based on the reasons given out bythe Kenyan government suspension of worldcoin, its clear information deficit still exists. Likely upon clarifying all the outstanding issues, the Worldcoin project may resume operations. As characteristic of the government, the activities may only be completely halted due to public backlash and pressure. But even so, the promise of free money and only 10 seconds of iris scanning, not so many Kenyans will give a damn about attacking Worldcoin. 

Why those addicted to sports betting may be laughing at Kenyans queuing for worldcoin tokens

Gambling or sports betting could have been mischaracterized to appear so bad. Ordinarily, people tend to unfairly label what they don’t clearly understand. The many Kenyans who before lashed out at binge bettors and those deeply into gambling as non-focused could be the same ones lining up for Worldcoin.

In no way do we intend to also malign Worldcoins or those rushing for it. Instead, our aim is to show that it’s important for us all to understand whatever we’re signing up to. Just like one needs to understand betting from day one, those scanning their eye iris should do the same. Its one thing to turn up for Worldcoin iris scanning and another to be adequately aware about what follows.

People need to be fully aware that the worldcoin campaign to scan iris and reward participants with 25 tokens. At the very basic, the scans aren’t a simple act of sheer philanthropy. Yes, the tokens may be a show goodwill and appreciation for those giving out their bimetircs. But over and above that, the whole idea revolves about creating a reference point for verification of humanood. Worldcoin operatives demur the idea of projecting the verification data as some kind of database but for lack of a better word, it is one. Maybe what we can say its an ecrypted database of human iris biometrics.

As a basic, technolgies and data driven projects that use humans need to adequately informthem. Avoiding the slippery paths that may simply turn peole into guinnea pigs requires extensive sensitization about the whole project. It would also helpforestall further backlash. Some gray areas remain on how the so-acquired data will be handled and the intentions. These need to be abundantly clear so that Kenyans, like others elsewhere can make informed decisions.

Quick Steps for getting the 25 Worldcoin tokens and cashing it out in Kenya

Many people rushing to iris scan do it primarily for the money. Without the 25 tokens valued at ksh. 7000 currently, the lines we witnessed at the KICC couldn’t be. Everyone turning up for the world coin iris scanning exercise has the money as the real pull factor. Take away the money and the whole rush will fizzle out way quicker than you could have first imagined.

So at this point, you may be wondering how to turn your Worldcoin token rewards into cash money. You quickly want to spend the cash on some items at Naivas Supermarket, online shops of prefference or Carrefour Kenya. Now here are the quick steps.