BREAKING: Elon Musk’s X To Begin Collecting Biometric Data…
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September 2, 2023 12:52 pm
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X, formerly known as Twitter, recently made major changes to its terms of service and policy.
The social media giant will begin collecting biometric data from its premium users on an optional, voluntary basis.
Spokespeople for the platform claim that the collection of this biometric data will be used to better secure the platform against impersonation efforts and bots.
It’s no secret that X suffers from a massive bot problem. Owner Elon Musk previously speculated that anywhere between 25-90% of the users on the platform were automated bots, while he was negotiating the purchase of the platform.
At one point, Musk was set to walk away from the deal entirely due to this issue and the lack of transparency on the part of Twitter’s former management.
Additionally, the data will purportedly be used to aid job searches and job seekers, as the social media platform inches closer to Elon Musk’s vision of an ‘everything app’ akin to China’s WeChat.
Here’s what we currently know:
#FPVideo: X, formerly known as #Twitter, will now collect users’ biometric data. The #ElonMusk owned company would also ask for users' job and education history. The changes were revealed in its new privacy policy that will come into effect on September 29. pic.twitter.com/sqzDJqEfyF
— Firstpost (@firstpost) September 2, 2023
X TO START COLLECTING YOUR BIOMETRIC DATA
next drug tests and ill be fkd…
— Merlin Capital 🧙♂️ (@merlinscapital) September 1, 2023
The Epoch Times explained:
The updated policy does not define “biometric information” although the term usually pertains to an individual’s physical characteristics such as fingerprints, or facial or retinal measurements. It is also not clear how the platform plans to collect such information.
X News Daily, a page that tracks changes and developments to the social media platform, presented the changes to the policy and speculated: “This is likely tied to efforts to improve security and ID verification. It also changed to note that X may use employment history etc. for Hiring.”
UPDATE: X confirms this policy on biometrics is tied to the upcoming rollout of optional ID verification for Premium subscribers.
ID verification will ‘help X fight impersonation attempts and make the platform more secure’, the statement said. https://t.co/e1Ba8xbjQi pic.twitter.com/DU82eRsMio
— X News Daily (@xDaily) September 1, 2023
Despite the collection of biometric data taking place on a voluntary, opt-in, out-out basis, many users on the platform have voiced concerns over this recent announcement.
The newest addition to Twitter/X privacy policy is right to harvest Biometric and "Job application" data such as employment history, education history, skills and abilities inventory and job search history.
All this so Elon can defend freedom of speech…🤔
Cool story bro! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/6wrcN7uXhQ— NeoSpank (@NeoSpank) August 30, 2023
Coin Edition reports that other new features are also likely coming to the X social media platform soon:
Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform, added Twitter was also planning to bring out audio and video call options.
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