Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, may soon be asking its users to verify their age and identity by uploading government-issued documents. This move comes as part of an updated privacy policy that will take effect on July 8.

The new policy allows Anthropic to request age or identity verification in certain circumstances, though specifics are lacking. Users flagged for potential fraudulent activity may be prompted to upload a photo scan of their passport or driver's license, along with a selfie or video.

This development comes amidst ongoing tensions between Anthropic and the Trump administration over access to AI tools. While Anthropic says it will only affect a small subset of users, the move is seen as part of broader compliance efforts amid legal challenges and regulatory changes.

The use of Persona for identity checks, backed by Peter Thiel’s investment firm Founders Fund, has raised eyebrows among some users who worry about data privacy. Roblox, another customer of Persona, ensures that user images are deleted immediately after processing, a stark contrast to Anthropic's approach.