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WORLD NETWORK, formerly Worldcoin, said it plans to introduce its secure and anonymous device WorldID in the Philippines to help combat the rising number of cyberthreats and deepfakes.

“Over the next few months, we will start introducing this, but the full launch is definitely happening this year,” Damien Kieran, chief legal and privacy officer of World and Tools for Humanity, told reporters on the sidelines of an event last week.

WorldID’s verification device Orb is a tool that captures and processes photos to verify human identity, encrypts the data, and stores it on users’ phones.

The company plans to roll out this device in the country within the year and is also planning to conduct pilot testing of the product in two cities in the capital region.

“The target market for WorldID and the World Network is, honestly, every human. Our goal is for every person to be able to use it and benefit from it,” Mr. Kieran said.

World Network allows users to have a verified identification through their mobile application. This would allow Filipinos to join its verified networks, proving their humanness online, managing AI agents, and combating bots, misinformation, and deepfakes.

“We cannot afford to take digital security lightly. Every Filipino deserves to be protected online, and this initiative is a major step toward building a cyber-resilient nation and society,” said Samuel V. Jacoba, founding president of the National Association of Data Protection Officers.

“The combination of a strong social media presence and rapid AI adoption highlighted the need for new tools to help protect Filipinos online,” he added.

Last month, the country’s top conglomerates fell victim to deepfakes, with International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) issuing warnings about scams.

Both ICTSI and SMC cautioned the public about deepfake videos and audio recordings attempting to lure people into pursuing investment opportunities. — Ashley Erika O. Jose