World Network makes its Italian debut

World is debuting its first location in Rome, Italy, bringing anonymous proof of human technology to Italians.

The timing could not be more critical as online fraud in Italy surged to €181 million in 2024. This number tells a story every Italian knows too well: distinguishing humans from sophisticated AI has become one of our era's defining challenges.

Addressing the world’s digital challenges

The challenge of distinguishing humans from AI has become a global priority. Nearly 70% of adults worldwide worry about being fooled by deepfakes online. On dating apps alone, 55% of users report encountering fake profiles. One in five Italians, or 12.7 million people, have fallen victim to online shopping scams. Among young adults aged 25-34, the figure rises to one in three. These figures represent real financial losses, broken trust, and the erosion of confidence in our digital economy.

Consider the everyday scenarios where proof of human transforms risk into reliability:

• Ticketing and Entertainment: As ticket scalping and bot-driven resales threaten events, World ID can help ensure tickets reach real people, not automated reselling operations. In online gaming, where Italian players spend billions of euros annually, proof of human prevents bot armies from manipulating economies and ruining competitive fairness.
• Financial Services: Banks and payment platforms using World’s proof of human technology can confirm they’re engaging with real customers, preventing AI-powered identity theft while maintaining complete user privacy. No data storage means no data breaches.
• Social Connections: Dating platforms, social networks, and community forums can finally address the plague of fake profiles. Consumers gain confidence that their interactions are with real people, while platforms reduce moderation costs and legal risks without collecting invasive personal data.

Privacy without compromise

At the heart of World's approach lies a fundamental innovation: proving you're human without revealing who you are. The technology uses cryptography to confirm your humanness and uniqueness in seconds, resulting in a truly privacy-preserving solution for the challenges of our digital age.

Here's how it preserves anonymity at every step:

When you verify with World, the process is simple: the Orb, an advanced camera deploying privacy-preserving technologies, verifies an individual’s humanness. The remarkable part? World never learns who you are. No names, no government IDs, no personal information required or stored.

Your verification creates a World ID, a way to prove you're human online while remaining anonymous. World doesn't store images or data about you. The system only knows one thing: you're a unique, real human.

Think of it like proving you're over 18 to enter a venue, but without showing an ID that reveals your name or address. You simply prove you meet the requirement while you remain anonymous. World brings this same principle to every online interaction, from social media to financial services to gaming platforms.

This privacy-preserving approach means you’re in control. You decide when and where to use your proof of human verification. Platforms learn only what they need: that they’re interacting with a real person, not a bot or AI.

How to get started

World offers Italy the human-centered infrastructure for a new era of digital interaction, one where privacy and security reinforce each other. The real human network starts here. Individuals can visit world.org or download World App to find the nearest location and learn more about the network. 

World Italy FAQ

What is World Network?

World Network is a global network designed to help people prove they are real, unique humans online. It aims to restore trust in digital interactions as AI and bots become more prevalent.

What is World ID?

World ID is a privacy-preserving digital proof of human. It allows individuals to confirm they are a real person online without sharing personal information such as names, IDs, or contact details.

How can someone get a verified World ID?

Verification takes place in person with an Orb, an advanced camera that confirms humanness using cryptography and privacy-preserving technology. No images or personal data are stored on the Orb or by World.

Does World collect or store personal data?

No. World does not store names, government IDs, phone numbers, or biometric images. The system only confirms that someone is a unique, real human.

Why is World launching in Italy?

As online fraud and AI-driven impersonation increase, World provides infrastructure aligned with Italy’s focus on privacy, transparency, and human oversight. Italy will be the fifth country in the EU where World operates, following Austria, Germany, Poland, and Portugal. 

How can World ID be used?

World ID can support safer online experiences across areas such as ticketing, financial services, dating, gaming, and age assurance.

Is World ID mandatory?

World ID is completely voluntary. Individuals choose if and when to use it, and platforms decide whether to offer it as an option.

How can people in Italy get started?

Download World App and visit world.org/find-orb to find the nearest World location in Italy.

How does World prevent underage individuals from participating in the network?

World deploys a robust, multi-layered approach to exclusively provide World Network access to individuals who are at least 18 years old. The approach includes: 

• App-based, private age gating 
• Human operator oversight
• Advanced Orb-based age detection

Details are also outlined in a related blog post, How World Network prevents underage access and usage.

Learn more

To stay informed about World, visit the World website or subscribe to the blog below.

You can also join the daily conversation on all World social media channels, or get additional important information concerning the project by reading the World protocol whitepaper.