The social media network X, formerly known as Twitter, is purportedly sending users’ personal information to an Israeli corporation for verification, raising privacy and security worries.
However, Users will be required to submit government-issued photo ID and a selfie to X, who will then forward it to AU10TIX, based in Israel, for verification.
AU10TIX Will Verify Blue Tick Users of Twitter
AU10TIX bills itself as a “world leader” in identity verification and management, and the company offers identification intelligence to airports and border control authorities.
According to PC Mag, the new process will be used “for the purpose of safety and security, including preventing impersonation”, and personal information would be held with the social media giant for up to 30 days.
Naturally AU10TIX — the Israeli tech firm @elonmusk wants to deploy for users to hand information over for verification purposes — have engineers who worked / work in Unit 8200, the intelligence unit of the Israeli Occupation Forces. pic.twitter.com/QE2wPkpx5q
— Jennine (@jennineak) August 20, 2023
“X will begin to have users verify their identity by having them submit a selfie alongside a government issued ID,” PC Mag tweeted.
“The process requires users to consent to X storing their information for 30 days and sharing it with AU10TIX, an identity verification company based in Israel.”
Twitter’s Performance After Elon Musk Purchase It
Since Elon Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, activists and journalists have criticized his management of the social media platform.
Musk replaced the old free ‘blue tick’ method, which was used to identify prominent public personalities, with the Twitter Blue subscription service, which allows anyone to be “verified” provided they pay a monthly price.
Due to a perceived lack of control, some subscribers have impersonated prominent public personalities and organizations, including Sudanese paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
With the new authentication process, Musk looks to be moving away from this method, but Palestinians are concerned about the use of AU10TIX for this, given the track record of previous Israeli corporations exploiting personal information.
The Israeli business NSO Group’s Pegasus malware has allegedly been used to spy on activists by a number of Arab nations.
This year, the widow of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi sued the NSO Group for allegedly using surveillance software to snoop on her correspondence in the run-up to his death.
Israel’s Reputation in Spyware World
Additionally, The Israeli government also uses spyware and other technology to spy on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Many tourists to Israel are subjected to interrogation at entry points, where they face deportation. Administrative detention is frequently used against Palestinians, allowing Israeli authorities to keep suspects indefinitely.
The New Arab contacted AU10TIX for comment on user concerns, but had not received a response by the time of publication.
To read our blog on “Twitter will no longer allow you to block users,” click here.
