X Verification Will Soon Need A Government ID and A Selfie
X, formerly Twitter, appears to be in the process of implementing a new method to verify user identities, beyond just paying the $8/month subscription fee and giving a phone number. The development was first reported by app researcher Nima Owji, who shared a screenshot of the new verification process.
It requires users to provide photos of their government-issued ID and take a selfie, which would take approximately five minutes to complete. The identity verification data is managed by AU10TIX, an Israeli-based identity verification company.
According to findings shared by Owji, users must consent to the storage of their personal information for up to 30 days and its sharing with AU10TIX for identity authentication. Twitter assures users that the collected data, in combination with information from their profiles, will be employed to enhance safety and security measures, primarily aimed at preventing potentially dangerous impersonations.
AU10TIX specializes in airport security and boasts an eight-second verification process without human intervention, according to its website.
Neither AU10TIX nor Twitter has confirmed the new verification process, but Owji shared that Twitter owner Elon Musk’s account has been “ID verified” since August 1, possibly indicating the implementation of the new process in the near future. But…it also says “Verified since 3000 BCE.”
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