In a recent development, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, referred to as “X,” has unveiled plans to begin collecting biometric and employment information from its users. This revelation came through a Thursday update to the company’s privacy policy, which detailed significant changes set to take effect on September 29.
X clarified that these changes have not yet been implemented, but when enacted, they will empower the company to store and utilize biometric data “for safety, security, and identification purposes.” The precise intentions behind the collection and utilization of biometric data have not been explicitly defined, leaving users with numerous questions and concerns.
Typically, online platforms employ biometrics like fingerprints and facial scans for user authentication during login processes or financial transactions, as seen in banking and payment companies. X’s approach to collecting biometric data remains shrouded in mystery, and the company has not disclosed the mechanics of how this system will operate.
Furthermore, X’s updated privacy policy disclosed its intent to collect and leverage users’ employment history and preferences. This data will be employed to offer job recommendations, possibly positioning X as a competitor to Microsoft-owned LinkedIn. The company stated, “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.”
Despite these significant policy changes, X was not immediately available for comment when reached out to by CNBC.
Under the leadership of Elon Musk, X has sought to expand its horizons beyond social media, messaging, and audio content. The company’s acquisition of Laskie, a job recruitment tool, was a notable move in this direction, marking its first acquisition under Musk’s ownership following his acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion in 2022. Although Musk is no longer the CEO of X, having passed the reins to former NBC Universal Chairman of Advertising and Partnerships Linda Yaccarino in June, the company continues its aggressive expansion.
In April, X forged a partnership with Israeli stock trading app eToro, enabling users to view and trade stocks through eToro’s web and mobile applications. EToro expressed intentions to expand this partnership, further indicating X’s commitment to diversification.
X has also been actively securing money transmitter licenses in various U.S. states, signaling its ambition to introduce its own payment features. This venture into financial services is notable given Musk’s co-founding role in PayPal, which emerged from a merger between software company Confinity and X.com, an early online bank founded by the billionaire.
As X undergoes these transformative changes, users and privacy advocates are likely to closely monitor the implications of the biometric and employment data collection in the context of privacy and security concerns. The full extent of these changes and their impact on users’ online experiences will become clearer once the updated privacy policy takes effect in late September.
