The privacy policy of X, formerly known as Twitter, has been changed to allow for the prospective collection of user biometric data and employment history.
The social media network X, which formerly operated as Twitter, announced this week that it may gather biometric and employment data from its users, broadening the breadth of personal data that users may be disclosing to the site. The updates to the company’s privacy policy added two new disclosures.
Since this move was just publicized, there have been questions raised concerning platform data gathering and privacy. This implies that X may compile data on users’ physical traits, such as fingerprints or face recognition information, as well as specifics about their employment background.
The social media network X, which formerly operated as Twitter, announced this week that it may gather biometric and employment data from its users, broadening the breadth of personal data that users may be disclosing to the site.
Two sections pertaining to the new data-gathering method were added to the company’s privacy policy in an update that included the disclosures.
The policy said that with your permission, we may gather and utilize your biometric data for safety, security, and identification purposes.
Additionally, X stated that it may gather users’ work and academic backgrounds under a new area titled “job applications.”
The business added that it might gather data on “employment preferences, skills and abilities, job search activity and engagement, and so on” in order to recommend job opportunities to users, share that data with potential third-party employers, or better target users with advertisements.
Users of X Premium will have the opportunity to supply a government ID and a selfie photo for verification purposes, according to the business. For matching purposes, the business may collect biometric information from both the official ID and the selfie, according to a statement sent to CNN by the business.
According to the business, “this will additionally help us tie, for those that choose, an account to a real person by processing their Government issued ID.” Additionally, this will strengthen the platform’s security and aid X in thwarting impersonation efforts.
The modifications reflect what many of X’s classmates already regularly gather. But it indicates a widening of the categories of data that Twitter is looking to track. The policy change comes as platform owner Elon Musk aims to make it become an “everything app” with capabilities like those of the well-known Chinese app WeChat, including financial services.
The change also occurs as international legislative measures start to demand that social media businesses confirm the ages of their users. Users of many age-assurance services are required to supply copies of their government-issued identity or selfies for AI to analyze.
Just hours before it was scheduled to go into effect on Thursday, a federal court temporarily delayed an Arkansas law requiring age verification for social media platforms.
Bottom Line
Discussions over user privacy and data protection on the network have been prompted by the policy change. Users utilizing X must be aware of these policy revisions and take into account how they may affect their personal data and data security.
