Anthropic Implements Identification on Claude: A Controversial Turning Point

Anthropic, the company behind the generative AI Claude, is considering introducing a new security measure that could spark debate. Starting July 8, 2026, certain users will be required to verify their identity to access specific features of Claude. This decision, aimed at enhancing security, may, however, raise concerns regarding the management of personal data.

This development specifically affects individual Claude Free, Pro, and Max accounts. Users of the Enterprise or Team offerings are not subject to this measure. Anthropic justifies this identity verification by the need to control access to its services, particularly in cases of suspicious behavior or doubts about the user's age.

To carry out these verifications, Anthropic will collaborate with Persona, a company specializing in identity verification. Affected users will need to provide an ID, a photo or video of their face, and facial geometry templates to confirm their identity. However, Anthropic assures that this data will not be used to train its AI models. The documents will remain stored with Persona and will not be integrated into AI systems.

This initiative has not failed to elicit reactions on social media. Some users are concerned about the generalization of identity checks, comparing this approach to the KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures common in the banking sector and cryptocurrency platforms. The issue of personal data usage by AI tools is already sensitive, and the addition of biometric data could exacerbate these concerns.