Anthropic updates privacy policy to require government ID for some users

Based on information from TechCrunch, Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, is updating its privacy policy to potentially require users to upload government-issued identification documents for age and identity verification. This change, set to take effect on July 8, is being introduced as part of an enhanced appeals process for flagged accounts.

The updated policy states that in certain circumstances, users may be asked to provide a scan of a government-issued passport or driver's license, along with a selfie and a facial geometry template. Anthropic spokesperson Michael Aciman clarified that this applies only to a small subset of users whose accounts are flagged but not banned, and is intended to allow appeals rather than outright account suspension. The company states this is necessary for account administration, enforcing terms of service, and investigating fraud or security issues. This move comes amid ongoing scrutiny and disagreements with the Trump administration regarding access to AI tools and compliance with various state and international regulations.

Anthropic is using Persona, an identity-checking provider, for these verification processes. Persona's data retention policies and its ties to Peter Thiel, an investor in both Persona and Anthropic, have previously drawn user criticism.

Source: TechCrunch