Claude, a prominent AI chatbot, has quietly implemented identity verification requirements for some users. According to Odaily, this measure necessitates the submission of government-issued identification and a real-time selfie when accessing specific features, conducting platform integrity checks, or fulfilling compliance measures. This marks the first instance of such verification being required by a mainstream AI chatbot.
Anthropic, the company behind Claude, stated that the verification data is solely used to confirm user identity and currently targets a small number of accounts suspected of potential fraud or violations. The identity verification process is supported by partner Persona, with data stored on Persona's servers and encrypted, ensuring it is not used for model training. This move has sparked dissatisfaction among privacy-conscious users.