Elon Musk-owned X, formerly known as Twitter, has rolled out an updated privacy policy that includes the collection of users’ biometric information. This move comes after the platform’s recent rebranding from Twitter to X.
X has recently updated its policy and declared its plans to collect and utilize biometric data only with the user’s consent. However, the policy does not explicitly define what this category of data entails. Typically, biometric data refers to data obtained from an individual’s facial features, fingerprints, or ocular characteristics.
Social media platforms are constantly under scrutiny from both users and regulatory bodies worldwide due to their data collection and utilization practices. This includes the customization of advertisements based on user interests and search histories. However, there is still a lot of ambiguity surrounding X’s collection methods for biometric data and how it will be utilized.
Elon Musk, who acquired X last year, has expressed his commitment to purging the platform of fake accounts. He has proposed encouraging users to subscribe to a premium service, called X Premium, previously known as Twitter Blue, symbolized by a blue check mark, which signifies authenticity and entails an $8 monthly fee.
In addition to collecting biometric data, X has announced its plans to gather information about the work and education history of its users, which is similar to what LinkedIn does. This includes details about past jobs, education, skills, job searches, and interactions. The aim is to use this data to provide job recommendations, share relevant information with potential employers during job applications, help employers find suitable candidates, and show more relevant ads. It is important to note that these new provisions are different from the previous privacy policy, which did not cover biometric data or work history.
However, with the recent policy change, X has faced legal challenges. Earlier this year, a proposed class-action lawsuit was filed alleging that X had captured, stored, and utilized biometric data of Illinois residents without consent. The lawsuit claimed that X had not adequately communicated its biometric data collection practices to individuals who interacted with the platform, whether knowingly or unknowingly. The lawsuit was filed on July 11 and has brought attention to the increasing legal implications of data privacy in the digital age.
