Account Takeover (also: ATO)

Unauthorized access to a user's account.

Age Verification (also: AV, age block)

A process that confirms a user meets the minimum age requirement to access certain features or complete verification. Users who do not meet the age threshold may be prompted to verify their age before proceeding.

Agentic AI

AI that can take actions on your behalf, like browsing the web, making reservations, or completing tasks automatically. World ID helps verify that these AI actions are backed by a real, unique human, protecting platforms from bots and unauthorized automated activity.

AI (also: Artificial Intelligence)

Technology that enables computers to perform tasks that typically require human thinking, like recognizing patterns, understanding language, or making decisions. World ID is an anonymous Proof of Human for the age of AI, helping platforms tell the difference between real people and bots.

AMPC (also: Anonymized Multi-Party Computation)

Anonymized Multi-Party Computation — a cryptographic technique used to process biometric data across multiple parties without any single party having access to the full data. Used by World to enhance privacy during verification.

Authentication certificate (also: certificate)

What another participant sees when they select the Human Badge next to your name in a Zoom meeting. It confirms your World ID for Zoom authentication and shows when you authenticated and how long it stays valid. Viewing it requires the World ID for Zoom app running in that participant's Zoom client.

Authentication frequency

How often participants are asked to complete World ID for Zoom authentication again before their Human Badge stops being shown. Set for the whole organization by an administrator, in the portal's Integrations settings.

Backup (also: Back up, recovery setup)

A login method set up to secure and restore access to your account. Supported options include Passkey, Google sign-in, and Apple sign-in. Setting up at least one is strongly recommended — without it, account recovery may not be possible.

Bug report (also: Report an issue)

What you send when you use Report an issue in the World ID for Zoom panel to tell us something went wrong. You describe the problem and confirm you agree to share the report and related verification data with Tools for Humanity. It gives support the technical detail behind a failed authentication. It is evidence rather than a support ticket, so submitting one does not open a case or produce a reply.

Compliance Standards

A set of rules, regulations, and guidelines that ensure an organization operates lawfully and ethically.

Compliance Standards Framework

An agreement that stipulates punishable offenses and penalties associated with violations

data privacy

The practice of safeguarding personal or sensitive data, ensuring compliance with privacy laws, and giving users control over their information.

deepfake

A synthetic media, usually video or audio, created using artificial intelligence to impersonate real people, often for deceptive or manipulative purposes.

DPA (also: Data Privacy Authority)

Government or regulatory authority related to data privacy matters.

Face Authentication (also: Face Auth)

A security step that matches a selfie to encrypted data stored on the user's device, confirming the person using the World ID is the same person who verified.

Gimbal

The circular mirror at the center of the Orb that moves to align with a person's eyes.

Human Badge

An indicator that a person has Proof of Human in their World ID. It can appear in World ID app and on accounts connected to a person’s World ID. In meetings that use World ID for Zoom, the Human Badge may appear on a participant’s video tile after successful authentication.

Login method (also: Log in, sign-in method)

The way a user signs in and restores access to their account. Supported options include Passkey, Google sign-in, and Apple sign-in. Setting up at least one login method is strongly recommended to ensure account recovery is possible.

NFC-enabled ID (also: NFC)

A government-issued identity document such as a passport or national ID with an NFC chip that can be used to claim a Proof of Attributes, without sharing data with third parties.

Occlusion

A condition during Orb verification where something partially blocks or obscures the user's iris, preventing a successful scan. This can be caused by physical characteristics, eyelashes, reflections, or other factors that interfere with the Orb's ability to capture a clear iris image. Users experiencing occlusion may need to reposition or seek assistance from an Orb operator.

Onboarding (also: Account creation, signup, new user)

The initial journey a new user takes when setting up their account, including downloading World ID app, creating an account, and claiming World ID Proofs

One Human: One Account

The principle that each verified World ID is tied to a unique real person preventing duplicate accounts and bot abuse across the network.

Orb (also: Orb device)

A device that verifies you are a unique human. The Orb cryptographically processes images of your face and eyes, without knowing anything else about you.

Orb Verification

The process of verifying in person at an Orb to claim Proof of Human, World ID’s highest-assurance Proof

passkey (also: Passkeys)

Passwordless authentication method that allows users to sign in to apps or websites using cryptographic keys instead of traditional passwords.

PCP (also: Personal custody package)

Encrypted biometric data stored locally on the user's device. Not stored by the World team.

Private by Design

Private by design refers to the practice of integrating privacy and data protection principles into the design and development of products, services, and business practices, ensuring that privacy is preserved throughout the entire data lifecycle.

Proof of Attributes

Proves specific attributes from your government credentials like age or nationality, without revealing anything else.

Proof of Human

Proves you’re a unique human. The highest level of assurance, backed by encrypted and anonymous hardware verification (the Orb)

Proof of Ownership

An encoded value tied to a user's World ID that confirms a specific person controls a specific World ID account. Can be shared with support or trusted third parties to verify account ownership without revealing personal information.

Proof of Presence

Proves you’re present with just a selfie. The entire process is privacy-preserving and happens on your mobile device.

QR Code

A two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned using a smartphone or other devices to quickly access information, links, or services.

ReAuth (also: World ID Re-Authentication, Reauthentication)

Reauthentication flow where a user visits an Orb to refresh their on-device encrypted package to continue using World ID features.

Relying Party (also: RP)

An app, platform, or service that accepts World ID Proofs and decides which Proofs are required for its use case

Single sign-on (also: SSO)

The sign-in method for the World Enterprise Portal. Administrators sign in through their organization's identity provider. There is no separate portal password.

Support Team

The team responsible for handling user inquiries, troubleshooting issues, and providing assistance across related products. Users can reach the Support Team directly through the in-app support channel.

Sybil Resistance

The ability of a system to prevent a single person from creating multiple fake accounts or identities. World ID achieves this through its one-human one-account verification model.

Three-way match

The check behind an authentication. Compares the images captured at the Orb, a live selfie, and live frames from the Zoom call.

Tools For Humanity

The technology company that builds and contributes to World, including products and infrastructure such as World ID, World ID app, World Money, World Chain, and the Orb. Tools for Humanity develops technology that helps people prove they are human online and access digital financial tools.

World Enterprise Portal

The web application where an organization's IT administrators manage their World ID deployment.

World ID (also: WorldID)

A privacy-preserving way to prove things about yourself online, such as that you’re a unique human, present in the moment, or have specific attributes like age or nationality. World ID lets you claim and use World ID Proofs without revealing unnecessary personal information.

World ID for Zoom

The integration that confirms a Zoom participant is the real, verified person their account says they are, during a live call.

World ID Proofs (also: Proofs)

World ID Proofs are things you can prove about yourself with World ID, without revealing unnecessary personal information. This could be Proof of Human, Proof of Presence, and Proof of Attributes.

World Network

The global network of verified users and participants built on World ID.

ZKP (also: Zero-Knowledge Proof)

Zero-Knowledge Proof. A cryptographic method that allows a user to prove something is true (such as being a verified human) without revealing any underlying personal data.