Hi everybody and welcome back to another episode of the Elon Musk Podcast. Today we have quite a complex topic to unravel. It's a story that has just come to the surface regarding the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Now this platform is now allowing paid users to verify their accounts using government ID's. And what's notable is that this new form of identification isn't available everywhere.
Specifically, users in the European Union, the European Economic Area, and the United Kingdom are excluded. And why is this change even happening? Well, ostensibly to prevent impersonation and keep the platform secure. But there are many layers to peel back here, including concerns over data privacy, the influence of external companies in this process, in the bifurcation of the user base into paid and freed categories.
Now the feature has its origins in Israel, where the company Authentics is facilitating its new ID verification process. Data, potentially including biometric information, will be stored for a period of up to 30 days, raising eyebrows about personal privacy. And here's another twist. ID based verification is currently available only for paid users, creating another divide in an already stratified online space. Now let's start by looking at how X is implementing this ID verification.
The initiative seems to be a protective measure that aims at preventing impersonation and in the future regulating access to age specific content. X is teaming up with Authentics and Israeli based firm specializing in identity verification. A pop up window will prompt users to upload their government issued ID's and the information collected will be stored for up to 30 days.
Now this development could explain why X recently updated its privacy policy to include cards for biometric information, a term that has been causing a lot of discussion lately. Now if you go through this process, your profile report a note saying your government ID has BeenVerified. But there's a catch. You only see this verification status when clicking on the blue mark on the profile. And this makes us wonder, is this another status symbol or a genuine measure for concrete security?
Now moving out to the benefits of the verification, what do you really get from this? X states that users verified IDs will get prioritized support from X services, although the specifics of what that means are somewhat shredded in history and the tangible benefits appear limited, especially given that this whole mechanism is locked behind a paywall. The service is exclusive to paid users, at least for now.
And in a similar vein, X allows their paid users to hide their verification check marks if they choose to do so, which also seems contradictory to the stated goal of transparency and security. So is the platform enhancing security or merely adding another tier of exclusivity to its services now? Remember, Twitter, now transformed into X, had previously discontinued its legacy verification program. The action led to some chaos, with top accounts losing their check marks.
But that check mark soon made its comeback, underscoring how important it has become as a status symbol. And when it comes to privacy, X made another change last month that gave it the power to capture users, biometric data, educational background, and job history. These changes are unfolding at a time when X's parent company is under scrutiny for its data privacy practices, adding another layer of complexity to this verification process.
Now let's turn our gaze toward Europe, where this feature is not yet available. X sidesteps European markets, presumably due to stringent data protection laws. Given this new system potentially involves the collection and storage of sensitive personal data, it's understandable that X would tread carefully in these jurisdictions. But it doesn't mention that it plans to extend this feature to Europe soon, leaving us pondering the legal gymnastics that will be required to make
this happen. Now it's worth mentioning the competition. There's Blue Sky. Funded by Twitter and backed by Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey, which recently hit a million users, Blue Sky has adopted A decentralized approach and aims to remain free, offering a paid domain service as a means for users to verify their identity. Then there's Metas Threads, which read 100 million users in just a week after becoming available in July.
It seems the landscape of social media is witnessing interesting developments in terms of user verification and identity management, making X's steps even more noteworthy. It's essential to touch on the reactions from the public and users of the platform too. There's clear split in opinions, as some viewing the new verification process as a necessary step towards ensuring platform security, while others see it as an intrusion into personal privacy.
There's a strong sentiment that the move to offer this verification only to paid users sets a dangerous precedent. It creates an online hierarchy and potentially marginalizes those can't afford or choose not to opt for the paid version. Now, Authentics involvement brings in its own set of
concerns. External companies having access to sensitive user data and personal data has always been a contentious issue, while Azure's users that the data is securely stored and only kept for limited time. Past incidents with other platforms have made users wary. Now this partnership evolves and what it means for users, data privacy will be crucial in determining the public's trust in this new feature. Now, from a business standpoint,
though, X's move is strategic. The page here offers an additional revenue stream in an age where platforms are looking for sustainable monetization methods outside traditional advertising, and by adding exclusive features like ID verification to the paid, tier X is creating a premium experience for its subscribers. But this approach begs the question, is online safety and security a luxury only a few can
afford now? As we project into the future, it's interesting how to how the shift will impact online interactions. Will other platforms follow suit, making ID verification a common feature? Or will there be push back, leading to more decentralized platforms where user privacy is paramount? Additionally, as online misinformation continues to be a significant concern, it's worth asking if ID verification play a role in curbing the spread of fake news and ensuring more
authentic online interaction. While it's not a foolproof solution, the biggest step in the right direction, the realm of online identity and verification is very complex. As platforms like X continue to adapt and change their strategies, the balance between ensuring user security and upholding data privacy remains delicate. It's essential for users to stay informed and understand the changes that directly impact them, and we conclude this
discussion. One thing's clear, the digital world is changing and as users, we need to be proactive in understanding these changes, in adapting accordingly. Now thank you so much for listening to the Elon Musk podcast today and joining me and your support. Engagement mean the world to us. So remember, if you haven't already hit that subscribe or follow button on your preferred podcast platform. This pasta thing and helps us bring more insightful topics to you.
And until next time, keep the discussions going and always stay informed. Please take care of yourselves and each other. I'll see you in the next one.