X Policy Revised: Biometric Data to be Collected from Premium Users

X, the social networking platform previously known as Twitter, has recently updated its privacy policy to gather biometric data from users in an effort to combat fraud and impersonation on the site.

Unlock early access to the X Hiring Beta — exclusively for Verified Organizations.

Feature your most critical roles and organically reach millions of relevant candidates.

Apply for the Beta today 🚀: https://t.co/viOQ9BUM3Y pic.twitter.com/AYzdBIDjds

— Hiring (@XHiring) August 25, 2023

According to the company, “With your permission, we may gather and utilize your biometric details for safety, security, and identification purposes.” This revised policy is set to become effective on September 29, 2023.

Where did the first stream come from?

X informed Bloomberg, which initially broke the news, that this alteration would only apply to premium users. They explained that a biometric matching process would assist in thwarting impersonation attempts and enhancing platform security.

To achieve this, you can: 

Provide a government ID and a photo for identity verification utilizing biometric data. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how X intends to collect this data and for how long it will be retained in their systems.

Other benefits it could bring

The updated policy is also expected to encompass the collection of users’ employment and educational histories. This data will suggest potential job opportunities, share this information with prospective employers, and deliver tailored advertisements.

This change follows X’s recent introduction of new features for Verified organizations to showcase job listings on their profiles.

Might I suggest turning the "We're Hiring" headline into a button instead (getting rid of the "View all jobs" button all-together), and when the "We're Hiring" button is pressed, bring up the "All Jobs" list seen on the right screen.

The way it sits now, it looks way too…

— I'm Jody (@ImJodyM) August 25, 2023

Is Elon Musk taking over?

In May, X initiated the rollout of encrypted direct messaging (DMs) on the platform. Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, has also stated that people can soon make video and audio calls on the X without disclosing their phone numbers.

Video & audio calls coming to X:

– Works on iOS, Android, Mac & PC
– No phone number needed
– X is the effective global address book

That set of factors is unique.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 31, 2023

Furthermore, the forthcoming privacy policy states that X may employ the information it gathers and publicly available data to enhance its machine learning and artificial intelligence models.

Musk has confirmed this alteration, specifying that it pertains solely to public data and does not encompass DMs or private content.

Thinking the other way

From a technical and security compliance perspective, X’s recent policy changes, including collecting biometric data for identity verification, pose opportunities and challenges. 

Ensuring the safety of biometric data is paramount, with encryption and strict access controls being essential components. 

Transparency and user consent are critical, aligning with industry best practices and data protection regulations. Apparent data retention and deletion policies must be established to meet security requirements. 

X’s move to incorporate employment and educational data for job recommendations brings it closer to platforms like LinkedIn, but success in this space will hinge on robust privacy practices. 

X’s prospects will depend on its ability to build and maintain trust by striking the right balance between innovative features and stringent security and privacy measures, especially when handling sensitive biometric information.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comment section.