According to a new privacy policy introduced by X (formerly known as Twitter), it will soon be collecting its users’ biometric data.
The policy says that the company intends to compile individuals' employment and educational histories. According to the policy page, the modification will take effect on September 29.
The updated policy reads, “Based on your consent, we may collect and use your biometric information for safety, security, and identification purposes.” While biometric data usually involves an individual’s physical characteristics, like their face or fingerprints, X has not yet specified the data they will be collecting. Also, X is yet to provide details on its plans to collect it.
In a conversation with Bloomberg, the company noted that biometrics are only for premium users and will have the opportunity to submit their official ID and a photograph in order to add an additional layer of verification. According to Bloomberg, biometric information can be retrieved from both the ID and the image for matching reasons.
“This will additionally help us tie, for those that choose, an account to a real person by processing their government issued ID[…]This will also help X fight impersonation attempts and make the platform more secure,” X said in a statement to Bloomberg.
Last month, X had its name filed in a ‘proposed class action suit,’ where it was accused of illicitly capturing, storing and using Illinois residents’ biometric data,, including facial scans. The lawsuit says X “has not adequately informed individuals” that it “collects and/or stores their biometric identifiers in every photograph containing a face.”
In addition to the modified details of the biometric collection, X’s updated policy reveals its intention of storing users’ employment and education history.
“We may collect and use your personal information (such as your employment history, educational history, employment preferences, skills and abilities, job search activity and engagement, and so on) to recommend potential jobs for you, to share with potential employers when you apply for a job, to enable employers to find potential candidates, and to show you more relevant advertising,” the updated policy reads.
The move seems to be related to the beta functionality of X, which enables verified companies on the network to publish job postings on their accounts. The prominent social networking platform has also established a legitimate @XHiring account. The hiring drive is a component of Musk's plans to make X an "everything app."
