Reddit Weighs Adopting Sam Altman’s Iris-Scanning Orb for User Verification

Reddit is considering a bold new approach to verifying its users: the World ID system, which uses an iris-scanning “Orb” created by Tools for Humanity—a company co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The idea is to let users prove they’re real, unique, human individuals without having to reveal their actual identities.

Why the Push Now?

The move comes as generative AI continues to flood social platforms with fake content, bots, and misinformation. Platforms like Reddit are under increasing pressure—from governments and users alike—to prove that their users are real people, and in some cases, of legal age.

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has suggested that “age and human checks” could soon become standard for the site’s more than 1 billion users. World ID could offer a third-party verification option that keeps identity in the user’s hands—with verification remaining anonymized and fully optional.

How It Works

World ID uses a device called the Orb to scan a person’s iris in person, generating a secure digital identity known as a World ID. This identity is not tied to a user’s name, face, or other personal details.

The system does not store raw biometric data or images. Instead, it creates a unique encrypted code—sometimes called an “iris hash”—which is fragmented across secure servers. World ID uses advanced cryptographic techniques like zero-knowledge proofs and multiparty computation to ensure privacy. The final ID is stored locally on the user’s device, not in a centralized database or public blockchain.

This allows users to verify that they are real, unique, human individuals without revealing their personal identity—supporting anonymous participation online while limiting duplicate accounts or fake personas.

A Divided Reaction

On Reddit, news of the potential integration has drawn strong reactions. Many users say they would leave the platform if biometric verification is introduced, even if it’s optional. Others worry that such a move—even in the name of fighting bots and misinformation—would erode the culture of anonymity that has defined Reddit for decades.

Some privacy-focused communities have been especially vocal, arguing that no system based on biometric data can ever be truly voluntary when it intersects with core features like visibility, trust, or moderation tools.

What This Means

Reddit’s consideration of World ID highlights a growing dilemma for internet platforms: how to balance safety, accountability, and privacy in an AI-saturated digital world. The idea of verifying users without de-anonymizing them is compelling—but the means of doing so matter.

Iris scans, no matter how securely stored, carry deep symbolic and practical risks. Critics warn of a future where biometric verification becomes normalized—even expected—for basic access to digital life. That raises the stakes not just for Reddit, but for the internet’s future as a space where people can speak freely without being tracked or tagged. Even with World’s privacy safeguards—including zero-knowledge proofs and local data storage—any system involving biometric verification invites scrutiny, regulatory interest, and debate over long-term risk. Critics warn of “golden biometric databases” that, if breached or misused, could be irreversible.

As AI agents become more capable—making purchases, booking travel, even communicating on behalf of users—the line between human and machine will only get blurrier. Systems like World ID may offer a way to distinguish real people from automated agents, but in doing so, they shift the burden of proof onto users: to verify not just who they are, but that they’re not AI.

As Reddit balances these possibilities, its decision could set a precedent for how large communities manage trust—and tension—between technology, identity, and human connection.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.