X, formerly known as Twitter, is updating its privacy policy to collect biometric data, including users’ facial photographs. This will be part of its X Premium subscription service, where users can provide a selfie and photo ID for verification purposes. Additionally, X may collect employment and educational history to recommend jobs and share with potential employers.
Recruitment Services Speculation
The move has led to speculation that X might be planning to offer recruitment services, following its acquisition of tech recruiting service Laskie in May. The new privacy policy is set to take effect on September 29, and it aims to provide more targeted user experiences and compete with platforms like LinkedIn.
While some experts see this as part of X’s strategy to personalize user experiences, others caution users to be wary of potential misuse by employers, who might use social media data in their hiring decisions. However, as this data collection is optional for users, it does not raise significant civil liberties concerns.
Future Plans
X is planning to introduce video and audio call features across various platforms without the need for phone numbers. This move aligns with its goal to become an all-encompassing app, offering a wide range of services to its users. No specific release date for these features has been provided yet.
It’s worth noting that TikTok also collects biometric data, including faceprints and voiceprints, in the United States.