Worldcoin Opens the Orb: Embracing Transparency and Innovation with Open-Source Software

Worldcoin's Orb software has been open-sourced, fostering transparency and collaboration within the community. This aligns with Worldcoin's aim to democratize global economic access. The release of the Orb software's core components promotes verifiability and innovation while enabling scrutiny and understanding of the Worldcoin protocol.

Worldcoin Embraces Transparency and Innovation: Orb Software Goes Open Source

In a bold move that solidifies its mission to democratize access to the global economy, Worldcoin has made the core components of its Orb software open source. This decision marks a significant milestone in the company's journey, enhancing transparency and fostering community collaboration.

Unveiling the Orb's Inner Workings

Previously, Worldcoin had shared information about the Orb's hardware and made its iris recognition component open source. However, the release of the Orb's core software marks a substantial step forward. This code provides insights into the process of converting iris scans into unique verifications within the World App, developed by Tools For Humanity.

Transparency and Verifiability at the Forefront

By releasing the core components of the Orb software under a dual license of MIT/Apache 2.0 on GitHub, Worldcoin demonstrates its commitment to transparency and verifiability. The open-source nature of this software allows the community to scrutinize the code, fostering trust and enabling independent verification of its functionality.

Enhancing Fraud Prevention

While the released software contains code related to image capture and secure data transfer, certain code pertaining to fraud checks has been omitted. This omission ensures the integrity of the Orb's fraud detection mechanisms, safeguarding users from potential vulnerabilities.

Introducing Personal Custody for Enhanced Data Control

Alongside the open-source release, Worldcoin has introduced a new privacy feature called "Personal Custody." This feature grants users control over their data by using a data package signed with a private key and encrypted with a user-provided public key before transfer to their mobile phone.

Diving into the Technical Details

The do_signup function within the orb-core repository, a crucial component of the Orb's software, is now accessible for examination. This function outlines the technical processes involved in each World ID verification method, from image capture to secure data submission.

While the software excels at capturing high-quality eye and face images, Worldcoin acknowledges challenges in integrating the autofocus system. The software employs a feedback controller incorporating a neural network to provide precise real-time sharpness estimates.

During the biometric stage of image processing, Python interfaces are utilized to access custom neural networks and apply Gabor filters. The software first checks for image alteration or synthetic creation.

Subsequently, the Iris Recognition System (IRIS), developed by Tools for Humanity and later open-sourced by Worldcoin, is used to analyze the eye images. The Rust programming language has been carefully engineered to minimize the negative effects of frequent reloading of components such as IRIS and other models.

Robust Security Measures for Data Privacy

Worldcoin asserts that the Orb's software implementation ensures users' control over their data through robust security measures. These mechanisms involve utilizing the Orb's private key for signing and the user's public key for encryption.

The signing process is performed by a dedicated secure element within the Orb, which is cryptographically paired with the Nvidia Jetson platform during manufacturing. This enhanced security ensures that only the intended recipient can decrypt the transmitted biometric data.

The privacy claims of the Orb's architecture have been independently audited by Trail of Bits, a reputable security research firm.

Gradual Transition to Open-Source

Worldcoin acknowledges that certain sensitive code within the orb-core and orb-secure-element has been forked for public use. The company plans to gradually transition towards open-sourcing these software components, allowing for transparent development of the non-sensitive parts of the software.

Alignment with Core Values

Worldcoin emphasizes that these efforts align with its core values of user privacy, data security, and transparent governance. The company believes that by making its software open source, it can foster a community of contributors and innovators, ultimately benefiting the entire Worldcoin ecosystem.