Key Points
- MIMOS Berhad, Malaysia’s government research arm, signed an MoU with the Worldcoin Foundation to integrate digital proof of humanness technology into national infrastructure.
- The partnership will leverage Worldcoin’s iris verification technology and explore joint orb manufacturing and blockchain integration.
Malaysian Government Embraces Blockchain-Based Identity Verification
In a significant move towards digital innovation, MIMOS Berhad, the applied research and development arm of the Malaysian Government, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Worldcoin Foundation, Tools for Humanity (TFH), and MyEG. This partnership aims to integrate Worldcoin’s cutting-edge technology into Malaysia’s digital infrastructure, improving digital credentials and validating the importance of digital proof of humanness in an era dominated by artificial intelligence.
The collaboration will bring Worldcoin’s state-of-the-art iris imaging technology to Malaysia, allowing individuals to access humanness verifications. This move aligns with Worldcoin’s recent expansions in Europe (as reported by Token Times AI in early August 2024) and Latin America, further solidifying its global presence in the digital identity space.
Advancing Privacy and Security in Biometric Verification
One of the critical aspects of this partnership is the emphasis on privacy and security. Earlier this year, the Worldcoin Foundation unveiled its secure multi-party computation (SMPC) system, a breakthrough in cryptography that enhances the privacy and security of biometric templates used for deduplication. This technology allows for verifying an individual’s uniqueness without revealing personal information, addressing concerns about data privacy in biometric systems.
Potential Areas of Collaboration
The MoU outlines several potential areas of collaboration between the parties involved:
- Joint orb manufacturing could lead to local production of Worldcoin’s verification hardware in Malaysia.
- Bridging World Chain to Malaysia’s National Blockchain Infrastructure: This integration could enhance the country’s blockchain capabilities and provide a robust foundation for future digital identity initiatives.
The Worldcoin Foundation has committed to ensuring its technology remains open-source and freely available. TFH will provide technical expertise and support for the Orb hardware and World App, while MyEG will focus on technical integrations and hardware deployment to support MIMOS’s initiatives.
About the Partners
MIMOS Berhad, a strategic agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI), is Malaysia’s premier innovation center in Semiconductor, Microelectronic, and ICT technologies. With over 1,300 patents filed across various technology domains, MIMOS is crucial in driving Malaysia’s digital transformation journey.
The Worldcoin Foundation and its technology partner TFH are at the forefront of developing solutions for digital proof of humanness. Over 6.4 million humans have verified their humanness globally using Worldcoin’s technology.
This partnership marks a significant step in Malaysia’s journey towards a more secure and efficient digital identity ecosystem. It could potentially set a precedent for other nations in integrating blockchain and biometric technologies into national digital infrastructure.
