To combat impersonation, X introduces a new government ID verification system

A few months ago, Twitter, or X, said that any user could get the blue checkmark on their accounts by paying the platform. Such an effort has resulted in impersonation problems. Since several bad actors are using such accounts to spread false information. In order to resolve this issue, X is coming forward with a new ID verification system. It will require users to authenticate their accounts by providing the details of their government-issued identification.

The company has introduced this program in collaboration with the Israeli verification firm Au10tix. It will help improve the safety and security of Twitter. Users who choose to authenticate their accounts will be granted several benefits, like prioritized support and an obvious mark on their profiles. The specific mark will be accessible when the blue checkmark is clicked.

Notably, the feature has been rolled out in several countries. However, it is not available in the United Kingdom, the European Union (EU), or the European Economic Area (EEA). According to Twitter, users might be required to reverify their IDs when they change their account settings, like transferring their accounts to another user, changing their account name, account dormancy, or for anonymous “safety and security purposes.”

“Our verification procedure focuses on confirming that the account owner is a real individual with legal identification. Accounts that do not adhere to X’s Terms, Rules, or policies risk having their ID verification label removed, according to X.

Problems with government IDs’ privacy

Well, this is a good approach by the company; however, it raises some concerns when it comes to submitting the details of government IDs. Doing so will require users to consent to X and Au10tix using their IDs and biometric details. According to X, the data will only be kept for identity purposes, whereas Au10tix will keep the data for a maximum of 30 days.

When it comes to Au10tix, the company holds a strong position in the tech industry. It is popular for providing an “8-second verification without human involvement.” Moreover, it is quite efficient at detecting synthetic fraud patterns across the globe.