The X platform has announced a notable policy change, updating its creator ad revenue share program to require all participants to undergo government-issued ID verification, which will be managed by an Israeli company.

Effective until July, participants must undergo X's verification process, involving a selfie and submission of a government ID copy. This alteration signifies a shift in X's strategy to uphold the integrity of its ad revenue share program and tackle emerging challenges.

What about the mandatory government ID verification?

The X platform has updated its creator ad revenue share program documentation, introducing a new mandate: all participants must provide a government-issued ID for verification. 

Verification will not be conducted by an automated system or X HQ staff. Instead, X has entrusted its ID verification process to Au10tix, an Israeli company specializing in identity verification. Au10tix has been authenticating X user profiles since September last year, enhancing the authenticity of X Premium subscribers.

X, previously known as #Twitter, will cooperate with an Israeli tech firm under the pretext of enhancing user account verification despite the occupation's continuous violations in cyberspace. pic.twitter.com/5iBdMLvWNR

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 21, 2023

Premium subscribers are not obligated to verify their government ID but can choose to do so. X states that subscribers opting for this additional verification will receive "prioritized support from X Services." Although this optional verification feature has been available since last year, it was not previously mandatory for receiving ad payouts through the revenue share program.

Reason for the change

The decision to enforce mandatory ID verification for ad revenue share participants likely arises from several concerns. One significant issue could be the presence of spreaders of misinformation who are earning substantial amounts through the program.

The introduction of this new verification requirement may also seek to curb the influx of spammers and bots currently receiving payments based on engagement. By implementing stricter verification measures, X aims to guarantee that only legitimate users reap the benefits of the ad revenue share program.