X has also outlined its future plans to streamline the checkmark review process for users who verify their IDs.
Elon Musk‘s X, formerly Twitter, has recently launched its new account verification system using government ID. This will allow users of its premium plans to prevent impersonation while giving them additional benefits such as “prioritized support”.
X Account Verification
The social network has joined forces with Israel-based Au10tix to implement identity verification solutions. Users encountering the ID verification pop-up should be aware that Au10tix may retain this data for a maximum of 30 days.
Although X’s support page indicates that ID verification is accessible in “numerous countries”, it is conspicuously unavailable in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and the United Kingdom. This omission is likely due to the stringent data protection regulations governing these regions.
The introduction of ID-based verification appears to be a proactive measure that currently offers minimal benefits. The company has mentioned the possibility of age-restricted content based on the age information obtained from the ID. Speaking on the development, the social media giant said:
“X currently focuses on account authentication to prevent impersonation and may explore additional measures, such as ensuring users have access to age-appropriate content and protecting against spam and malicious accounts, to maintain the integrity of the platform and safeguard healthy conversations”.
Users who complete the verification process will display a note indicating that their government ID has been verified. However, this note is only visible when you click on the blue checkmark located on the user’s profile page. Additionally, the company has mentioned that users who undergo ID verification will receive “prioritized support from X Services,” although the exact nature of this benefit remains somewhat unclear.
What’s Coming to X Next?
X has outlined its future plans to streamline the checkmark review process for users who verify their IDs. These verified users will also gain the flexibility to make frequent changes to their names, usernames, or profile photos without forfeiting their checkmarks.
It’s important to note that the company currently offers ID-based verification exclusively to its paid users. This strategy, while aimed at reducing impersonation and spam, does not extend verification tools to all users.
In April, Twitter terminated its legacy verification program and removed checkmarks from various accounts, which led to significant confusion. However, in response to the ensuing chaos, the company reintroduced checkmarks for select accounts.
In a recent update to its privacy policy, the social network expanded its data collection capabilities to include users’ biometric data, educational background, and job history.
“This will additionally help us tie, for those that choose, an account to a real person by processing their government-issued ID. This will also help X fight impersonation attempts and make the platform more secure,” the company said at that time.
Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast and holds a good flair in understanding financial markets. His interest in economics and finance draw his attention towards the new emerging Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency markets. He is continuously in a learning process and keeps himself motivated by sharing his acquired knowledge. In free time he reads thriller fictions novels and sometimes explore his culinary skills.
