Anthropic May Require Some Claude Users to Verify Identity With Government IDs

Anthropic is preparing to introduce identity verification checks for a small number of Claude users, potentially requiring government-issued identification documents and biometric data as part of account reviews.

The change appears in Anthropic’s updated privacy policy, which is scheduled to take effect on July 8. According to the company, the verification process will only apply in certain circumstances and primarily targets accounts flagged for potentially fraudulent activity.

Instead of immediately suspending or banning flagged accounts, Anthropic says users may be given an opportunity to appeal through an identity verification process. Depending on the situation, users could be asked to upload a photo of a passport, driver’s license, or another government-issued identification document.

Anthropic May Collect Selfies and Biometric Information

The updated policy also allows Anthropic to collect a selfie photo or video during the verification process. In some cases, the company may create and store a face geometry template generated from those images.

Face geometry templates are considered biometric information in some jurisdictions and may fall under specific privacy regulations. Anthropic says it may also retain verification results, including information about whether a user meets age requirements.

The company does not provide specific examples of what may trigger an identity check. Instead, it says verification may occur during platform integrity reviews, safety checks, compliance procedures, or when users attempt to access certain features.

Persona Will Handle Verification Checks

Anthropic says it uses Persona, a San Francisco-based identity verification company, to conduct the checks.

According to the updated policy, identity verification data may be used to:

• Create and administer Claude accounts
• Enforce Anthropic’s terms of service
• Prevent fraud and abuse
• Investigate unlawful activity
• Resolve security and safety issues

Anthropic determines how long Persona can retain submitted identity documents, although the company has not disclosed a specific retention period. The company also did not provide details on when uploaded documents or biometric information may be deleted.

Because Persona stores data on its infrastructure, submitted information could potentially be subject to lawful requests from U.S. government authorities.

Separate From Fable and Mythos

Anthropic says the new verification policy is unrelated to its recent Fable or Mythos initiatives.

The clarification comes after reports that Anthropic’s Mythos AI was shut down following security concerns raised by Amazon. It was also recently reported that Mythos AI managed to breach NSA systems within just a few hours. It was also reported that Anthropic’s Mythos AI was shut down following security concerns raised by Amazon.

For most Claude users, the changes are unlikely to have any immediate impact. Anthropic says only a small subset of accounts flagged for suspicious or potentially fraudulent behavior will be asked to complete the verification process.

Via TechCrunch