Claude launches an identity verification mechanism: it requires government-issued ID and a real-time selfie, with Chinese users hit the hardest

Anthropic has recently rolled out an identity verification mechanism for Claude, requiring certain users to provide a government-issued photo ID and a live selfie, in order to prevent abuse, enforce usage policies, and meet legal obligations. According to the Claude official help center, the verification process is handled by a third-party service provider, Persona, and is typically completed within five minutes.

Verification requirements and process

The verification documents required by Anthropic include:

A valid government-issued photo ID (passport, national ID card, etc.) — must be the physical original; photocopies, screenshots, scans, or photographed copies are not accepted

A phone or computer with a camera — used to capture the live selfie

During the verification process, the system will confirm the authenticity of the ID and match the selfie against the ID photo. The entire process is carried out by Persona; identity data is stored in Persona’s systems, not on Anthropic’s servers.

Data privacy safeguards

In its documentation, Anthropic emphasizes the following privacy safeguards:

Identity verification data is only used to confirm identity and will not be used for model training

It will not be used for marketing or advertising purposes

Data is shared only among the user, Persona, and Anthropic, unless required by law

Mainland China users bear the brunt

This verification mechanism has sparked widespread discussion in Chinese-language communities. Since Anthropic currently does not offer services to mainland China, the double verification of physical documents plus a live selfie creates greater barriers for Chinese users to use Claude through third-party intermediaries. Community comments note that this move may significantly reduce the size of the intermediary account pool.

Impact on users in Taiwan

Users in Taiwan can currently use the Claude service normally. If identity verification is required, users who hold a Taiwan passport or a Republic of China national ID card should be able to complete the verification process smoothly. Anthropic’s documentation does not list Taiwan as a restricted region.

This measure is the latest step by Anthropic to strengthen user identity controls amid the rapid improvement of its model capabilities. As AI models expand their applications in sensitive areas such as cybersecurity, verifying user identity is becoming a standard practice for AI platforms.

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