Reddit Considers World ID for User Verification Amid AI and Age Laws

Reddit, a widely used social media platform, is considering the adoption of World ID to verify its users, known as "redditors," without compromising their identity. This move comes as online platforms grapple with the challenges posed by AI-generated content and new government regulations that mandate age verification.

World ID, developed by Tools for Humanity, the team behind the crypto project Worldcoin, now rebranded as World, and co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is a verification system. It uses iris-scanning Orbs to confirm that a user is a real, unique human being, not a bot or AI, while maintaining their anonymity. This technology works by scanning a user’s iris to create an encrypted representation, which is then fragmented and stored on secure servers globally. Users receive a unique World ID stored in an encrypted vault on their smartphones. The system can verify age and other credentials anonymously, with the Orb’s age detection software refusing to scan users it suspects are under 18.

The platform also offers the option to use the World app without Orb verification, though with limited functionality. A pilot program allows users to verify credentials like passports by scanning them on their local devices without sharing information. If implemented, World ID would be one of several verification options available to Reddit users.

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman recently acknowledged that AI and age verification laws would require the company to verify user authenticity and age. “We will do our best to preserve both the humanness and anonymity of Reddit,” Huffman wrote on the platform. This statement underscores Reddit's commitment to balancing user privacy with the need for verification in the face of evolving technological and regulatory landscapes.

The potential partnership between Reddit and Tools for Humanity highlights the growing importance of identity verification in the digital age. As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent and governments impose stricter regulations, platforms like Reddit are seeking innovative solutions to ensure the authenticity of their users without sacrificing their anonymity. World ID's technology, with its focus on iris scanning and encrypted storage, offers a promising approach to achieving this balance.