“Based on your consent, we may collect and use your biometric information for safety, security, and identification purposes,” the privacy policy reads. It doesn’t include any details on what kind of biometric information this includes — or how X plans to collect it — but it typically involves fingerprints, iris patterns, or facial features.

X Corp. was named in a proposed class action lawsuit in July over claims that its data collection violates the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. The lawsuit alleges that X “has not adequately informed individuals” that it “collects and/or stores their biometric identifiers in every photograph containing a face” that’s uploaded to the platform.

  • lycanrising@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    but….why? of all the things to care about with that dying husk of a platform, what could suddenly make biometric information such an interest to them?

    • BarrierWithAshes@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      If he’s going to make an ‘American WeChat’ then having this data is necessary. If you aren’t familiar with WeChat it’s a social media app from China that’s basically the default application for banking, videos, posts, 2FA, etc. It’s hugely popular in China. Of course, whether or not he should even be allowed to get this info or how viable making an American WeChat is, is a completely different story.

      • SokathHisEyesOpen@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Why the fuck would anyone want their social media tied to their banking? Data leaks are already harmful enough without that link.

        • BarrierWithAshes@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          Well simply put, he saw how successful WeChat was in China and believes that this success can be replicated in the States. Imagine. Having one app for banking, job applications, messaging your friends and following your favourite content creators? And then for those pesky other accounts you could have a password manager on X? Why even have another app? And although it isn’t in the cards right now ideally he’ll want integration with the government, as that’s how WeChat can get all it’s records for people (and I further guess he’s banking on a Trump government to help him with that).

          (yes I realize how horrible this sounds haha, just trying to illustrate how Musk sees this)

          • SokathHisEyesOpen@lemmy.ml
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            1 year ago

            Yes, that sounds like a dystopian nightmare, especially in the hands of the world’s 2nd biggest emotionally imbalanced man-child.

        • squiblet@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          There was this app about 12 years ago which was like ‘foursqaure for payments!’ It would advertise ‘blahblah just paid $55 at some lame restaurant’. It seemed like an awful idea and it died, but… currently, Venmo does that.

    • SokathHisEyesOpen@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      The same reasons he cares about anything, more money and more power. I’m sure there’s a lot of unscrupulous buyers for such data.

      • SokathHisEyesOpen@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        That’s just a smoke screen. The website benefits from bots, and there are considerably less intrusive ways to verify people. We’re not talking about a high security clearance government website here. Twitter is where people go to post inane ramblings.