X, previously Twitter, acquired biometric and job-related data from users.
X, formerly recognised as Twitter, is set to revise its privacy policy, introducing the collection of biometric data from its users, such as facial photographs. This significant change, scheduled to take effect on September 29th, primarily targets subscribers to X Premium, who will have the option to submit a selfie and photo ID for identity verification. Additionally, the updated policy permits X to gather information related to users’ employment and educational backgrounds, stating that this data could be employed to suggest potential job opportunities and share relevant details with potential employers.
Speculation has arisen regarding X’s potential venture into recruitment services, possibly spurred by its acquisition of Laskie, a tech recruiting service, in May. This acquisition marked a notable development since Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter for $44 billion last year.
The revised policy explicitly outlines the company’s intention to utilise personal information, including employment and educational history, to recommend job opportunities, facilitate employer-candidate connections, and tailor advertising. According to Liberty Vittert, a data science professor at Washington University, this shift aligns with X’s goal of providing more personalised user experiences and competing with platforms like LinkedIn.
While this data collection may seem extensive, Dr. Stephanie Hare, a tech ethics researcher, emphasises that users have the choice to opt in, making it less of a civil liberties concern. X asserts that the collection of biometric data will be exclusive to X Premium users and serves the purpose of enhancing security and combating impersonation on the platform.
In addition to these privacy changes, Musk has announced X’s plans to introduce video and audio call features, aiming to transform the platform into an all-encompassing “everything app. TikTok, another social media platform, already collects biometric data in the United States, although it claims not to employ it for individual identification. The expansion of X’s features and privacy policy amendments may continue as part of Musk’s ambitious vision for the platform.
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