X can now ask users for government IDs to verify their paid accounts

Social media platform According Updated X verification policy (first seen through TechCrunch), the company may also require government-issued identification “when necessary” and is exploring additional measures to protect users from spam, malicious accounts, and content that is not age-appropriate. The new verification system was first leaked in August.

A pop-up for the feature indicates that X is partnering with an Israel-based verification company. AU10TIX to facilitate the new authorization function. AU10TIX can store all verification information, including photos of user IDs and “extracted biometric data,” for up to 30 days. This may explain why X updated its privacy policy in late August to include “biometric information” exclusions.

Identity verification benefits for X Premium subscribers will include a line that says “this account has ID verified” when someone clicks on your blue check mark and prioritized support from a simplified review process required to obtain a blue check mark and greater flexibility to make changes to the account (including profile photo, display name, and username).

Users may be asked to re-verify their account using a government-issued ID if the account name or intended purpose is changed, if ownership of the account has been transferred to another user, if the account is inactive or for undisclosed “security purposes.” .”

X says it will also provide the option to use identity verification for “certain X features” as a means of increasing trust in its platform. The company didn’t elaborate on what these features might entail, but says those who choose to participate could receive “additional benefits associated with specific feature X” in the future. These benefits will only be available to individual users, excluding business and organization accounts.

ID-based verification is currently available in “numerous countries,” but X did not elaborate on specific locations. However, it does not currently include the European Union, the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, probably because these regions have strict data protection laws. X says it will extend identity verification to these regions “soon.”