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“X, the company formerly known as Twitter, has recently announced significant updates to its privacy policy that are raising eyebrows and sparking discussions among its user base. One of the most notable changes is the collection of biometric data from its users, which includes requesting a photograph of their face. This move has raised concerns and questions about privacy and security.
Under this new policy, users subscribed to X Premium, the platform’s subscription service, have the option to voluntarily provide a selfie and a photo ID for identity verification purposes. While this might seem like a measure to enhance security, it also opens the door for X to possess sensitive biometric information, such as facial scans, which fall under the umbrella of biometric data.
Interestingly, the updated privacy policy also mentions that X may now collect information related to users’ employment and educational history. This data would be used, according to the policy, to ‘recommend potential jobs’ and ‘share with potential employers when you apply for a job.’ This has led to speculations that X might be considering entering the recruitment services market.
The move comes after X Corp, the parent company of X, acquired a tech recruiting service called Laskie earlier in the year. This acquisition marked a significant step toward diversifying X’s offerings beyond its traditional social media platform. It’s worth noting that this acquisition took place following Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, which was then known as Twitter, for a staggering $44 billion in the previous year.
The updated privacy policy is set to take effect on September 29th and includes language that outlines the purposes for which this data will be used, stating, ‘We may collect and use your personal information (such as your employment history, educational history, employment preferences, skills and abilities, job search activity and engagement, and so on) to recommend potential jobs for you, to share with potential employers when you apply for a job, to enable employers to find potential candidates, and to show you more relevant advertising.’
In response to concerns about the collection of biometric data, X has stated that this feature is specifically targeted at X Premium users. According to the company, users will have the choice to provide their government ID along with a selfie to add an additional layer of verification. Biometric data, in this case, may be extracted from both the government ID and the selfie for matching purposes. X claims that this added security measure will help combat impersonation attempts and enhance platform security.
Elon Musk, who has been at the forefront of X’s transformation since taking over, has reiterated the company’s plans to introduce video and audio calling features. He noted that this feature would be compatible with iOS, Android, Mac, and PC, and interestingly, no phone number would be required, suggesting that X aims to become a comprehensive communication platform.
In Elon Musk’s vision, X is evolving into an ‘everything app,’ essentially a one-stop shop for various online services. As part of this evolution, we can expect further additions of features and updates to the privacy policy to facilitate these changes. While the company’s intentions may be to provide a more comprehensive and secure user experience, these developments are sure to ignite discussions about user privacy, data security, and the evolving role of social media platforms in our lives.”
