X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk and formerly known as Twitter, announced that it will collect biometric and employment data from its users as part of its updated privacy policy. The policy states that X may use the biometric data, such as a photo of the user’s face or a government ID, for verification, security and identification purposes. The policy also states that X may use the employment data, such as the user’s job history and skills, to recommend potential jobs, share with employers or show relevant ads. The new privacy policy will take effect on September 29, 2023.
“Based on your consent, we may collect and use your biometric information for safety, security, and identification purposes,” the policy read.
In addition, under a new section labeled “job applications,” X said it may collect users’ employment and educational history.
The company also said it could collect “employment preferences, skills and abilities, job search activity and engagement, and so on” in order to suggest potential job openings to users, to share that information with prospective third-party employers or to further target users with advertising.
For X Premium users, the company will give an option to provide a government ID and a selfie image for verification purposes.
“This will additionally helps us tie, for those that choose, an account to a real person by processing their Government issued ID,” according to the company. “This will also help X fight impersonation attempts and make the platform more secure.”
The changes reflect X’s ambition to become an “everything app” that offers various online services, such as messaging, e-commerce, gaming, streaming and crypto. X has been expanding its features and functions since Musk acquired it in 2022 and rebranded it as X. The platform claims to have over 500 million active users worldwide.
Relevant articles:
- X, formerly known as Twitter, may collect your biometric data and job history, CNN Business, September 1, 2023
- X, formerly Twitter, to collect biometric and employment data, BBC News, September 2, 2023
- Musk’s X to collect biometric information and employment data, CNBC, September 1, 2023
- X wants permission to start collecting your biometric data and employment history, The Verge, August 31, 2023