Introduction

AI company Anthropic has recently launched a mandatory identity verification mechanism on its Claude platform. This new requirement affects users who trigger platform risk controls or access specific features, necessitating real-time photo verification of a physical ID.

Verification Process

According to the platform’s KYC (Know Your Customer) rules, only original documents such as passports, driver’s licenses, or national ID cards are accepted. Copies, scans, digital IDs, and temporary IDs are not permitted. The entire verification process is managed by a third-party vendor, Persona, and typically takes no more than five minutes.

User Feedback

Many users have reported that completing the identity verification does not guarantee continued access to services. In fact, it may trigger account bans. The official Claude FAQ section specifically addresses reasons for account bans, including repeated violations of usage policies, account creation from unsupported locations, and use by individuals under 18 years of age. A user known as llm_nerd shared that their 15-year-old game developer son subscribed to Claude Max services and received programming orders through AI, only to have his account banned by the system.

Data Privacy Concerns

The privacy policy of the third-party vendor, Persona, reveals that it has access to user data through 17 subprocessors and may use this data to enhance its anti-fraud capabilities. There is a possibility that user ID data could be utilized for training Persona’s own models.

Anthropic’s Statement

Anthropic stated that the introduction of this mechanism aims to prevent abuse, enforce platform policies, and fulfill legal compliance obligations. Verification is only triggered in specific scenarios, and user personal data will not be used for training Anthropic’s models; such data is managed by Persona.

Conclusion

As the landscape of AI services evolves, the implications of stringent verification processes and user data handling practices remain a critical topic of discussion.