China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has issued a public warning about a foreign initiative offering crypto in exchange for users’ iris scans, with the biometric data then reportedly transferred overseas.
The ministry said such activities could pose serious risks to personal information security and even national security. The warning was posted on the MSS’s official WeChat account on Wednesday.
It comes amid the rapid adoption of biometric technologies. Specifically, these technologies include facial, fingerprint, and iris recognition. While these methods offer convenience and precision, the MSS stressed that their widespread use also creates opportunities for cyber‑espionage and criminal exploitation.
Biometric Data at Risk
According to the MSS, foreign intelligence agencies have sought to obtain biometric data from Chinese citizens to forge false identities. With these false identities, they aim to infiltrate sensitive workplaces and access classified information. The ministry urged the public to remain vigilant about such threats.
Corporate Lapses Highlighted
In one example, a foreign company’s fingerprint payment system was directly linked to its corporate database. Weak security protections allowed hackers to repeatedly breach the system, leading to the theft of vast amounts of personal information. MSS said this shows how inadequate corporate safeguards can expose users to risk.
Iris Scans and Cryptocurrency Project Under Scrutiny
Iris patterns, noted for their stability and difficulty to replicate, are often used for high-level security access. MSS warned that these qualities make iris data valuable to criminals, with some organizations allegedly using deceptive methods to collect such information for identity theft or security breaches.
The ministry also described a case in which a foreign project offered cryptocurrency tokens in return for iris scans. In this case, the data was reportedly sent overseas.
The MSS did not identify the entity. However, its description closely matches Worldcoin, a global identity initiative cofounded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Worldcoin has faced regulatory scrutiny in Germany, France, and Kenya, where authorities have questioned whether participants fully understood the implications of sharing their biometric data and raised concerns over data security and potential surveillance uses.
Public Urged to Stay Vigilant
The MSS advised citizens to carefully review how biometric service providers store and process data, read privacy policies, and reject requests for excessive or unnecessary information. It stated that informed vigilance is essential to prevent misuse of personal identifiers.
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