‘I Sold My Iris; Now What?’: What Drives Brazilians to Hand over Their Unique, Personal Data

‘I sold my iris; now what?’: What drives Brazilians to hand over their unique, personal data

Residents of São Paulo say they were attracted to the scheme because of payments in cryptocurrencyOriginally published on Global VoicesIris scanner in a World ID shop in São Paulo. Photo: Leu Britto/Agência Mural, used with permission This article by Artur Ferreira and Isabela do Carmo first appeared on Agência Mural's website on February 25, 2025. An edited version is being republished on Global Voices under a content partnership agreement. The…

Brazilians Selling Iris Biometric Data for $105 Amid Growing Global Market

Brazilian citizens are reportedly selling their iris biometric data for payments of approximately 600 Brazilian reais (USD 105), according to recent investigations. The trend coincides with projections showing the global biometric authentication market will reach $187.18 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 20.7 percent. Online advertisements have emerged offering monetary compensation for iris scans, similar to controversial i…