Published on April 16, 2026
Anthropic has announced a new identity verification process for users of its AI chatbot, Claude. Currently, users access the platform freely, but this change introduces a requirement for some functionality that involves validating their identity through a government-issued photo ID and a simultaneous selfie.
Responses to the announcement have been overwhelmingly negative. Many users express confusion and frustration over the need for identity verification, especially since they are already paying subscribers. The company’s choice to utilize Persona Identities, linked to controversial surveillance projects, has raised additional concerns among the user community.
Persona Identities, which will handle the verification process, has ties to Palantir Technologies, a firm known for its collaboration with federal agencies like the FBI and ICE. Critics argue this relationship casts a shadow over the intent of the identity verification, especially in light of ongoing discussions about governmental surveillance and data privacy.
Despite the backlash, Anthropic insists that Persona will manage the ID verification securely. They stated that images will not be stored and that any data processed will remain encrypted. The company maintains that it will not use identity data for model training or share it with third parties, aiming to reassure users amidst growing privacy concerns.
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