As most of us lingered on social media, news of X's latest move came to light. A look at the updated privacy policy reveals a surprise: the platform now wants to collect biometric data. If that sounds shocking, wait until you hear the rest.
Between premium verification and career paths
According to Bloomberg, biometric data collection will primarily be for premium users. They can have their identity additionally verified by submitting ID and photo. The biometric data extracted from these documents is intended to verify the authenticity of the accounts and thus make the platform more secure. At first glance, this may sound like a step in the right direction, but concerns about handling such sensitive data remain.
But that's not everything. X also plans to collect information about its users' professional and academic backgrounds. Why? To display relevant job offers and advertisements. The platform also wants to make it easier for employers to find potential candidates. This initiative, which may seem like a step toward personalized services, is seen by critics as a risky balancing act between useful information and potential misuse.
Career data – A career exchange in the making?
In addition to your biometrics, X also wants to know what you do for a living. Are you studying? She's interested in that too. Why? Obviously to present you with “relevant” job offers. Employers could soon scan your resume directly through X. Frightening or innovative? That depends on your perspective.
Class action lawsuits: A dark spot in the X dossier
As we grapple with the latest privacy changes, there are already legal problems for X. A class action lawsuit recently filed accuses X of secretly storing biometric data from Illinois residents. And if that's true, then we have a serious problem.
X’s super app vision
But why this shift in focus to biometric data and career paths? It's another step in X's efforts to expand its reach and become a "super app" that offers everything under one roof. Users should be able to make video and audio calls on the platform without providing a phone number. This vision is in line with Elon Musk's larger ambitions to make X a comprehensive platform for diverse services. But the question remains how secure this platform will be when biometric data and sensitive career paths come into play.
Conclusion: A balancing act between innovation and data protection
The latest developments at X inevitably raise the question of how far innovation and data protection can go in the digital era. The idea of using biometric data to increase security is undoubtedly intriguing. At the same time, however, it also raises serious concerns about data protection and possible misuse. The class action lawsuit against X further highlights these concerns.
In a world where technology and privacy compete, it is critical that users are aware and able to make informed decisions. The future of X as a “super app” depends on the balance between innovation, usability and data protection. It remains to be seen how this story will develop.
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Source: Bloomberg , X Privacy Policy
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