Ask Onix
Dating and video apps introduce biometric verification
Tinder and Zoom will soon allow users to confirm their humanity through iris-scanning technology, addressing growing concerns over AI-generated fake accounts. The feature, developed by World, lets individuals earn a "proof of humanity" badge for their profiles.
How the technology works
Users can verify their identity by scanning their irises-either via a mobile app or an orb-shaped device operated by World. The process captures the unique patterns of the colored part of the eye, generating a digital ID stored on the user's smartphone. This ID, called a World ID, does not require personal details like names or addresses, according to the company.
Sam Altman highlights urgency of human verification
At a San Francisco event on Friday, Tools for Humanity co-founder Sam Altman, who also leads OpenAI, warned that AI-generated content will soon dominate the internet. A deepfake video shown at the event depicted historical figures like Walter Cronkite and Ronald Reagan discussing the need for human verification online.
"I'm not afraid for the future as long as we can tell between the two," Altman said, referring to human and AI-generated content.
Sam Altman, Tools for Humanity and OpenAI
Rising threats from AI-driven fraud
Tinder has struggled with fake profiles, or "bots," which often use AI-generated scripts to manipulate users into scams. Last year, one user estimated that 30% of profiles she encountered were AI-enhanced scammers. In the U.S. alone, romance scams cost victims over $1 billion in 2025, per Federal Trade Commission data.
Zoom faces similar risks, particularly from deepfake impersonations. A 2024 incident in Hong Kong saw a worker tricked into transferring $25 million after video calls with AI-generated likenesses of colleagues. Deloitte projects such scams could cause $40 billion in U.S. financial losses by 2027.
Why iris scans?
World's technology relies on iris patterns, which are more unique than fingerprints. The company reports that 18 million people have already been verified through World ID, with 450 million verifications recorded. Tinder's parent company, Match Group, called the partnership a "natural next step" to help users confirm authenticity.
"Partnering with World ID is a natural next step to help users know the person on the other end is real," said Yoel Roth, Match Group's head of trust and safety.
Yoel Roth, Match Group
Evolution of the verification platform
The company behind the technology has rebranded multiple times. Initially launched as Worldcoin in 2022 with a cryptocurrency, it became World Network in 2024 before shortening its name to World last year. Tinder's new verification option complements its existing video selfie requirement, while Zoom users can now display their World ID to prove their identity during calls.
