X launches account verification based on government ID

In attempt too prevent impersonation

X has launched government ID verification for paid X Premium subscribers, after clues emerged in August that the feature was in development, TechCrunch reported Friday.

‎

In a new help center page, X said the verification is for "safety and security purposes" and to "prevent impersonation." It may also be used to protect users from spam, malicious accounts, and content that isn’t age-appropriate.

‎

Users will receive benefits like prioritized support and a visible label that shows their identity has been verified. Down the road, X plans to expedite Premium reviews for users who verify with ID.

‎

The social network partnered with Au10tix, an Israeli-based company specializing in identity verification. X requires users to check a consent form allowing "X and Au10tix [to use] images of my ID and my selfie, including extracted biometric data, to confirm my identity and for X's related safety and security purposes, including preventing impersonation." Au10tix may store this data for up to 30 days.

‎

ID-based verification is currently available in “numerous countries,” but X did not elaborate on specific locations. It does not include the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the UK, however, likely because these regions have strict data protection laws.

‎‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‎

‎‎‎‎‏‏‎For more from us at Waivly, join our free fun-to-read and to-the-point newsletter enjoyed by thousands of people across the internet every day of the week 👇