The Elon Musk company has started sending out email notifications to users announcing that from July 1, government ID verification will be required to earn income on the platform "through Ad Revenue Sharing and Creator Subscriptions programs."
The new requirement is supposedly part of X's effort to protect against impersonation and fraud and improve user support.
"We're making changes to our Creator Subscriptions and Ads Revenue Share programs to further promote authenticity and fight fraud on the platform," the update to X's verification page reads. "Starting today, all new creators must verify their ID to receive payouts. All existing creators must do so by July 1, 2024."
There's one problem. X has apparently contracted Au10tix, an Israeli company known for its identity verification solutions, and founded by Ron Atzomn, a retired member of the Israel Defense Force’s clandestine unit 8200, which provides the Jewish nation with 90% of its electronic intelligence material.
The new requirement has trigged criticisms with many calling it a direct threat to anonymity which has historically been the cornerstone of free speech online. Citizens and activists have been able to criticize their governments, expose corruption and organize without risking their safety and livelihood.
Some critics are even more dismayed by the involvement of Au10tix, given Israeli intel's notoriety in aggressive electronic spying and blackmail operations.
Many users have since expressed their disappointment with Musk who had in recent past expressed support for the importance of anonymity online. The platform owner and Tesla chief has not commented publicly about the new ID requirement.
