Elon Musk’s social platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is testing a new approach to identity verification that would require users to present a government issued ID photo. This development was reported by Engadget, which cited Nim Ouji, a researcher who tracks unreleased features on X. Ouji observed a new badge labeled Identified appearing on Musk’s profile earlier this month, and later found a detailed entry within the app describing the feature, suggesting a rollout may be near.
The description explains that account holders would verify themselves by submitting a government issued identification document, with an estimated processing time of about five minutes. In addition to uploading a passport photo, users would be asked to take a selfie while holding the document to confirm the match and prevent impersonation. The two step process aims to connect the person behind the account with the official document in a quick and visible way, making verification more tangible for both the user and the community.
X has lined up Au10tix as its authentication partner for this potential capability. It was noted that the data shared for verification would be accessible by both Au10tix and X. Additionally, the platform would retain copies of ID cards and biometric data for up to 30 days, using the information to strengthen security measures and detect fraudulent activity. The exact scope of the data retention policy and how it would be managed across jurisdictions remains to be clarified, inviting scrutiny from privacy advocates and regulators.
At present, it remains unclear whether passport based identification would become mandatory or what concrete benefits would accompany a verified status on X beyond the existing paid verification tier offered through X Premium, previously branded Twitter Blue. The emergence of a more stringent verification method could shift how users interact with the platform, potentially creating distinctions between verified and non verified accounts in terms of trust, reach, and access to certain features.
As this development unfolds, observers are weighing privacy implications against potential improvements in authenticity and safety on the social network. Discussions in the tech community often highlight the balance between strong identity verification and the protection of user data, urging clear disclosures on data handling, storage durations, and the rights of users to withdraw consent or delete biometric information if the feature progresses to broader adoption. While the current status is exploratory, the direction hints at a future where identity verification on X might resemble an enterprise grade process adapted for everyday public figures and ordinary users alike, integrating biometric checks with swift verification timelines, all under close scrutiny from regulators and privacy advocates.
Historical notes show that X has experimented with different verification models, and the move toward ID based authentication would mark a notable shift in strategy. Stakeholders will be watching for official announcements detailing eligibility criteria, user experience flows, opt out options, and the precise data governance mechanisms that would govern ID images and biometric templates as the platform tests new trust building tools in a rapidly evolving social media landscape, while users weigh the tradeoffs between convenience, security, and privacy.