X Premium subscribers now have the option to verify their government ID for added safety and security, This feature is currently available in numerous countries, excluding the EU, EEA, and the United Kingdom.
The purpose of this verification is to prevent impersonation and ensure user safety. It may also be used to screen age-appropriate content in the future. Subscribers who verify their identity will receive benefits such as prioritized support and a visible label indicating their verification status. X plans to expedite Premium reviews for users who complete the ID verification process.
To implement this feature, X has partnered with Au10tix, an Israeli-based company specializing in identity verification. By consenting to a form, X and Au10tix can utilize images of the user’s ID and selfie, along with extracted biometric data, to confirm their identity and enhance safety measures. This data may be stored by Au10tix for up to 30 days.
After Elon Musk acquired X (formerly Twitter), he announced changes to the verification program, limiting badges to paid users. However, the program faced initial issues due to impersonation and misuse. To address this, verification marks were later only given to large organizations and users with significant followings.
X does not handle ID checks itself, except for verified organizations. Au10tix boasts rapid verification with minimal human involvement and advanced technology to detect synthetic fraud patterns. They have previously collaborated with prominent companies like Google, PayPal, and Uber.
While X recently updated its policy to capture certain user information, it has faced scrutiny over data privacy concerns. The FTC has been investigating X and Elon Musk since March, expressing concerns about data privacy and security.