X Wants Your Face and Work History – Watch Out or Dive In? 😱
X, formerly known as Twitter, announced that it will begin collecting biometric data from its users, including a photograph of their face. And if that’s not enough to make you sweat, the company’s new policy also states that it may collect your employment and educational history. As a professional, you have to wonder: Is X a threat to your privacy, or is this just another day in the ever-evolving world of technology?
First things first, let’s talk about biometric data. In case you’re not familiar, biometric data refers to any information that can be collected about a person’s physical characteristics, such as their facial features or fingerprints. While biometric data can be incredibly useful for things like security and identification, it’s also very personal and can be sensitive. That’s why it’s important to understand exactly what X plans to do with your data before you hit “agree” on the new policy.
According to X, the company will only collect biometric data from users who sign up for their subscription service, X Premium. And even then, the data will only be used for verification purposes. So, for example, if you want to ensure that nobody else can create a fake X account using your name and information, you might choose to provide X with a selfie and a photo ID. X claims that this data will be securely stored and won’t be shared with anyone else.
As for the employment and educational history that X plans to collect, the company says it will use this data to recommend potential jobs to users and also to share with potential employers when users apply for a job. This actually sounds like it could be a helpful feature for job seekers, but of course, it does come with some potential risks. For example, some people might not want their current employers to know that they’re looking for a new job, and the fact that X plans to collect this data might make them wary of using the platform at all.
There’s also been speculation that X could be planning to offer recruitment services of its own. In fact, in May of this year, the company reportedly acquired a tech recruiting service called Laskie. This could be a sign that X is moving into the job search market in a big way, and if that’s the case, it’s possible that more and more sensitive data could be collected in the future.
So, should you be worried about X’s new policy? As with any data collection, the answer depends on how comfortable you are with sharing your personal information. If you’re not interested in using X Premium or taking advantage of the platform’s job search features, you may not have much reason to be concerned. On the other hand, if you’re a job seeker who’s looking for a leg up in the search process, X’s new policy might be worth exploring. Just be sure that you understand exactly what data you’re sharing, and where it’s going.
In conclusion, X’s new policy is definitely worth paying attention to, especially if you’re a job seeker. While some people might be uncomfortable with the idea of providing biometric data to the company, others might see it as a way to protect themselves and their online identities. The key is to do your research and make an informed decision about whether or not X’s new policy makes sense for you.