Anthropic says Claude may want to see your ID

Anthropic has announced that users of its AI model, Claude, may soon be required to verify their age and identity through government-issued documentation. This move comes in light of updates to the company’s privacy policy, which will take effect on July 8. The intention behind this requirement is to provide users with a way to appeal if their accounts are flagged for potentially fraudulent activities instead of facing outright bans. The new policy, detailed in a recent privacy update, highlights that age verification processes have been in place for users over 18. However, identity verification checks were not included in the previous versions of the policy until now. When triggered, users may need to upload a scanned image of their passport or driver’s license, along with a selfie or video that captures their facial geometry, which some states classify as legally protected biometric data. Anthropic clarified that this verification system is only applicable to a small subset of users whose accounts have been flagged, according to spokesperson Michael Aciman. The company has millions of active users each month, but specifics about how many would be affected remain undisclosed. The update aims to improve the appeals process while also complying with various legal standards and regulations. In addition to verifying user identities, Anthropic stated that it could require ID uploads to enforce its terms of service, which includes preventing and investigating fraud and abuse. This development reflects the company's ongoing efforts to deal with legal challenges and regulatory scrutiny, particularly amidst tensions with the Trump administration regarding access to its AI technologies. Previously, the Department of Defense had designated Anthropic as a “supply chain risk,” reportedly due to its refusal to provide technology for mass surveillance or autonomous weaponry. The company partners with Persona, a San Francisco-based identity verification provider, for these checks. Although Persona is responsible for how long it retains user identity documents, details on data deletion timelines remain unspecified. In light of this announcement, it’s worth noting that other platforms, such as Discord, have faced backlash for using Persona for similar verification processes, highlighting the sensitive nature of identity verification in the tech industry.