Sam Altman and Alex Blania, leading figures behind the iris-scanning Worldcoin initiative, have recently engaged in discussions with Malaysian officials, aiming to foster better government relations while emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding user data and privacy.

Blania, CEO and co-founder of Tools of Humanity, the primary developer of Worldcoin, held talks with representatives from Malaysia's digital ministry, as confirmed by a post on X. The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation shared details of the meeting, which included a photo featuring Blania.

Additionally, last Friday, Blania and his co-founder, Altman, joined a video call with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as revealed in a post by the government leader. Blania subsequently reposted Ibrahim's post, expressing gratitude to the Malaysian official.

These interactions with Malaysian authorities signal Worldcoin's efforts to address concerns related to data collection and privacy, as well as to establish closer collaboration with regulators and government bodies.

Worldcoin has faced scrutiny in recent times, particularly regarding its collection of individuals' personal data through iris scanning. Temporary bans were imposed by Spain and Portugal last month, citing privacy concerns. Worldcoin offers cryptocurrency rewards, known as WLD tokens, to users who undergo iris scanning to create their own digital identity. The handling of biometric data has been a focal point of privacy advocates' apprehensions.

The project's challenges in Spain and Portugal are part of a broader pattern, with regulatory scrutiny emerging from countries like Germany, France, Argentina, Kenya, and South Korea. Altman's association with the project, given his previous role as CEO of OpenAI, has heightened attention on Worldcoin's endeavors.