Anthropic Requires Some Claude Users to Submit Government ID and Biometric Data Starting July 8
Summary
Anthropic is requiring select Claude users flagged for potential fraud to submit government IDs, selfies, and biometric face data starting July 8, sparking privacy concerns over data retention and the company's use of Thiel-linked verification firm Persona.
Key Points
- Anthropic is updating its privacy policy to require some Claude users to verify their age and identity by uploading government-issued documents, with the change taking effect July 8.
- The identity verification applies only to a small subset of users whose accounts are flagged for potentially fraudulent activity, and involves collecting passport or driver's license scans, selfie photos, and biometric face geometry data.
- Anthropic uses San Francisco-based Persona as its identity-checking provider, but has not clarified how long user data is retained, raising privacy concerns especially given Persona's ties to Trump-aligned investor Peter Thiel.