X, previously known as Twitter, has introduced a new government ID-based account verification system tailored for its premium users. This innovative feature aims to combat impersonation while offering various advantages, including “prioritized support.”
In collaboration with Israeli identity verification firm Au10tix, the social networking giant has implemented a pop-up for ID verification, with the possibility of Au10tix storing this data for a maximum of 30 days.
While X’s support page mentions that ID verification is accessible in many countries, it is important to note that it is not available in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and the United Kingdom. This restriction is likely due to the stringent data protection regulations governing these regions.
Currently, the ID-based verification system appears to provide limited immediate benefits. X has mentioned the potential use of this system to restrict access to certain content based on the user’s age, as determined from the ID.
X stated, “Our current emphasis is on account authentication to prevent impersonation, but we may explore additional measures, including age-appropriate content access and protection against spam and malicious accounts, to uphold the platform’s integrity and foster healthy conversations.”
Users who complete the verification process will receive a verification badge on their profiles, indicating that their government ID has been verified. However, this information can only be viewed by clicking on the blue checkmark symbol on the profile page. Additionally, X has stated that users with ID verification will receive “prioritized support from X Services,” although the specifics of this benefit remain somewhat unclear.
Interestingly, X recently introduced a feature allowing paid users to hide their verification checkmarks from their profiles. Furthermore, the company has plans to expedite the review process for checkmarks in the future for users who have verified their IDs. These users will also gain the flexibility to make frequent changes to their names, usernames, or profile photos without forfeiting their verification status.
It’s worth noting that, at present, ID-based verification is exclusively available to paid users. This decision raises questions, as X has emphasized its commitment to reducing impersonation and spam, yet verification tools are not accessible to all users.
In April, Twitter terminated its legacy verification program and removed verification checkmarks from many accounts. However, due to the ensuing confusion, the company eventually reinstated checkmarks for select accounts.
In a recent privacy policy update, X disclosed its ability to collect users’ biometric data, education, and job history, citing this as a means to link accounts to real individuals by processing their government-issued IDs. X believes that this additional information will help thwart impersonation attempts and enhance the overall security of the platform.
