The social media platform, Twitter, recently updated its privacy policy to include a new kind of user data known as biometric as the social networking platform plans to collect it.
X Plans To Collect Biometric Data
In its new policy, Twitter which is currently rebranding to X Holdings Corp. said, “Based on your consent, we may collect and use your biometric information for safety, security, and identification purposes.”
So far, the social media company hasn’t defined what it considers biometric.
Interestingly, other companies have used the term to describe data gleaned from a person’s face, eyes and fingerprints.
Regarding this new development, San Francisco-based X representative has confirmed the new policy change, but didn’t elaborate further.
As we have already witnessed how the social media companies have long drawn criticism from users and regulators around the world for the information they gather and the way they use that data.
It includes the sale of advertising tailored to a person’s interests and search histories.
Foundation For Everything App
Now, it is unclear how X will collect the biometric data and use it further.
Elon Musk said that one of his priorities is to rid the site of inauthentic accounts, and push more users toward using a service that applies a blue check mark, indicating the user has paid $8 a month and is more likely to be human, when he bought Twitter last year.
Further, Musk announced X users will be able to make video and audio calls through the platform without having to share their phone number, in the latest expansion of services as he seeks to create an “everything app”, after the policy update.
Earlier X revealed its intention to gather information about users’ jobs and education histories.
In this updated policy, X said, “We may collect and use your personal information (such as your employment history, educational history, employment preferences, skills and abilities, job search activity and engagement, and so on) to recommend potential jobs for you, to share with potential employers when you apply for a job, to enable employers to find potential candidates, and to show you more relevant advertising.”
It is noteworthy here that the existing policy, in place until Sept. 29, didn’t include references to biometric data or job and employment history.
Earlier this year, a proposed class action suit which was filed July 11 alleged that X wrongfully captured, stored and used Illinois residents’ biometric data without consent.
The suit states that X “has not adequately informed individuals who have interacted (knowingly or not) with Twitter, that it collects and/or stores their biometric identifiers in every photograph containing a face that is uploaded to Twitter.”
