Updates to Anthropic’s Privacy Policy
On June 24 at 12:30 PM, Anthropic updated its privacy policy, introducing a potential requirement for users of its Claude service to verify their age or identity. This could involve uploading photos of a driver’s license, passport, or other official documents. The policy change stems from the detection of users who may be under 18 years old. It is unrelated to restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on the Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models.
Anthropic first announced plans for age verification last December, stating that Claude would begin flagging users suspected of being under 18 and that their accounts could be automatically deactivated. In April 2023, the company revealed a partnership with Persona, an identity verification firm, to build the age-check system. Persona develops identity verification tools but has faced controversy after activist groups alleged it checks biometric data against government watchlists. Persona denied these claims, stating an internal review found no violations.
Age Verification Process
Under the new procedure, certain users may be asked to upload a document and take a real-time selfie. Persona is permitted to use the collected data solely for identity verification, system maintenance, and fraud prevention. Importantly, user data will not be shared with third parties or used to train artificial intelligence models.
Anthropic software engineer Tariq Shihab noted that the new rules apply only to a small subset of users. He also emphasized that the changes are not connected to the launch of the Fable or Mythos models, nor to discussions with the U.S. administration. Additionally, he pointed out that in many U.S. states, driver’s licenses do not include citizenship information and can be legally obtained by foreign nationals.
These privacy policy updates reflect a growing focus among tech companies on child protection online and compliance with legal standards. Age verification can help prevent minors from accessing content that may negatively impact their development. Anthropic’s collaboration with Persona signals its commitment to creating a safer environment for Claude users, despite potential challenges and criticism surrounding identity verification technologies.
As Anthropic navigates the complexities of age verification, it's worth noting that the company has faced scrutiny in the past regarding the performance of its AI systems. Recently, they acknowledged issues related to the degradation of AI capabilities, which has raised questions about their operational transparency. For a deeper understanding of how these challenges might impact user experiences, you can read more about it here.