Thirty Seconds to Mars has recently came out to improve the concert ticket-buying experience, but I’m not sure if this is the answer.
The band has partnered with Tools For Humanity, the technology company co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, to integrate its biometric identity verification system known as The Orb. The device scans a person’s iris to confirm their identity, creating a digital “World ID” that can then be linked to concert tickets through a partnership with ticketing platform Concert Kit.
As part of the initiative, Thirty Seconds to Mars is offering select fans two-for-one ticket deals in exchange for creating a World ID account through the eye-scanning process. The promotion is available only for specific dates on the band’s upcoming 2027 UK and European tour. According to the band, the goal is to help ensure tickets end up in the hands of genuine fans rather than automated bots and ticket scalpers.
While supporters believe this technology could help create a fairer ticketing system, it’s likely to raise plenty of questions among fans. Many may wonder whether scanning their eyeballs is really necessary just to buy concert tickets. With the number of security measures already in place—from passwords and CAPTCHAs to two-factor authentication and endless app downloads—it’s fair to ask whether there isn’t a less invasive way to stop bots and scalpers from snatching up tickets. Surely, with all the technology available today, there has to be a better solution than an iris scan.
