Anthropic has begun requiring government-issued photo identification for certain users of its Claude AI platform, triggering a backlash over privacy and data security. The company said identity verification is handled through Persona, a third-party service, and may be needed to access paid features or comply with platform safety checks.
Under the policy, users must upload an official ID such as a passport or driver’s license and submit a live selfie for verification. Anthropic described the process as part of its “compliance and integrity” measures but did not specify which features or regions are affected.
Persona’s involvement has intensified criticism after a February 2026 security disclosure revealed exposed frontend code capable of performing hundreds of identification checks, including facial recognition and watchlist screenings. Although Persona said no personal data had been compromised and that the affected system was isolated, the discovery prompted Discord to end its partnership with the firm.
Online users have expressed strong opposition, arguing that requiring physical ID offers minimal security benefits while increasing privacy risks. Critics noted that other major AI platforms, including ChatGPT and Gemini, do not demand government IDs for subscriptions. Some questioned Anthropic’s decision to rely on a third party with a controversial security record.
Anthropic maintains that identity data collected by Persona is not stored on its own servers, shared for marketing purposes, or used in model training. Still, the policy marks another flashpoint for the company after previous updates restricting third-party integrations and enabling data retention by default. For many longtime users, the ID verification rule represents a new layer of compliance they are reluctant to accept.
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