China Flags Biometric Data Collection as Critical National Security Risk—Global Tech Giants on Notice

Beijing draws a hard line in the sand—your face isn't just yours anymore.

The biometric battleground heats up

Facial scans, fingerprints, and voiceprints now sit squarely in China's crosshairs as 'high-risk' assets. No more polite requests—this is a full-throated warning to multinationals hoarding sensitive data.

Decentralization advocates cheer

Crypto-native privacy solutions suddenly look prescient as centralized data vaults become geopolitical liabilities. (Take that, TradFi surveillance capitalists.)

The zero-trust future arrives early

When even sovereign nations call biometrics a threat vector, maybe it's time to question why your grocery store demands a retina scan for loyalty points.

Ministry Issues Caution Without Naming Project

Without mentioning specific names, the project resembles the previously named “Worldcoin,” now known as “World.” According to MSS, the company collects users’ iris scans with the promise of cryptocurrency rewards, storing these data through high-resolution scans. The scanning operations, conducted from Iran to Brazil, are integrated not within decentralized platforms but directly through a “Proof of Personhood” service.

In May, Indonesia paused World services due to licensing uncertainties. Tools for Humanity continues work to clarify licensing conditions with local regulatory agencies. Last month, Shenzhen’s financial authorities warned against platforms promising false cryptocurrency investments while highlighting similar data collection tactics.

Detailed Analysis of National and Individual Security Risks

Iris data, unique to each individual, is among the most reliable biometric identification methods. Unauthorized access to these data can significantly raise risks of cyberattacks, surveillance activities, and identity theft. If biometric data change hands, users may face irrecoverable information leaks.

On a national level, if data pools fall into foreign entities’ hands, it poses the risk of monitoring critical infrastructures and jeopardizing strategic decisions. The MSS noted its intention to tighten laws regulating biometric data collection processes and to establish new oversight mechanisms covering similar practices.