X to Integrate Persona for Payment Verification
X (formerly Twitter) appears to be partnering with identity verification provider Persona to bolster security for its upcoming payment features. Code discovered by MacRumors analyst Aaron Perris suggests that Persona's verification process, involving government-issued ID and facial recognition, will be used for "safety and security, fraud prevention and payments purposes."
This move comes as X's current verification system, X Premium, faces scrutiny for its lack of robust identity confirmation. While X Premium offers a paid blue checkmark, it doesn't require the same level of ID verification as the planned integration with Persona.
Persona: A Proven Solution
Persona already partners with platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube for user ID confirmation. This partnership signals X's commitment to enhancing security and combating fraud within its payment system.
The integration raises questions about the future of X's verification system. While Elon Musk initially envisioned widespread paid verification to combat bots, the adoption rate of X Premium remains low, with less than 1% of users subscribing.
Implications for X and Social Media
The move towards more robust identity verification for payments on X could set a precedent for other social media platforms. The ability to verify users at scale, as demonstrated by LinkedIn's verification of 80 million members, could significantly improve accountability and reduce the prevalence of bots and trolls.
While some argue for the importance of online anonymity, the potential benefits of widespread identity verification in combating harmful online activity are becoming increasingly clear.
This development suggests that X is taking concrete steps to secure its payment system. Whether this will extend to broader user verification remains to be seen. The partnership with Persona, however, indicates a significant shift towards greater accountability and security on the platform.
