Anthropic has started rolling out government-issued ID verification for Claude, including for some new signups and subscriptions. This is a recent change handled through a third-party service called Persona Identities.
A physical, original government-issued photo ID; passport, driver’s license, state/provincial ID, or national identity card from most countries. It must be undamaged, legible, and show your photo. Often required: A live selfie taken in real-time via phone or webcam not a photo of a photo.
Not accepted are Photocopies, scans, screenshots, mobile and digital IDs, student IDs, or temporary paper documents. The process usually takes under 5 minutes. Anthropic states the data is used only for identity confirmation to prevent abuse, enforce policies like the 18+ age requirement, and comply with legal obligations, not for model training. They chose Persona for its privacy and security features.
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 20 (June 8 – Sept 5, 2026).
Register for Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Register for Tekedia AI Lab.
It’s not yet universal for every basic signup or user—it’s described as a gradual, selective rollout for certain use cases, platform integrity checks, accessing specific capabilities, or subscriptions. Some users including reports of teens or those flagged by age classifiers are hitting it immediately, while others haven’t. However, multiple reports indicate it’s now appearing during new account setup or paid plan activation for many people.
Anthropic has long had an 18+ age policy for Claude and uses classifiers to flag potential underage use, sometimes leading to suspensions. This ID step strengthens enforcement against abuse, fake accounts, and policy violations—without an explicit new regulatory mandate mentioned. It’s the first major consumer AI chatbot like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, etc. to implement this level of KYC-style verification.
The move has sparked significant backlash online: Privacy concerns from users who previously saw Claude/Anthropic as more privacy-friendly compared to competitors. Complaints that it creates friction for signups, competitors like ChatGPT still allow quick email, Google and Apple signup without ID. Some users calling it a gift to rivals, as it may drive people away.
Separate issues with false positives on age. This fits a broader industry trend toward stronger identity checks as AI capabilities grow and regulators and companies worry about misuse, but Anthropic is moving faster here than OpenAI or Google on the consumer side. If you’re trying to sign up and hit the prompt, you’ll need a qualifying physical ID handy. For existing users, it may only trigger for certain features or if your account raises flags.
User friction and churn: Adds significant signup and upgrade friction; physical ID + live selfie via Persona. Many users report abandoning subscriptions or upgrades immediately. Reddit and social reactions show strong resistance, with comments like cancelling as soon as this hits and not upgrading anymore.
Widely viewed as handing a gift to rivals. ChatGPT and Gemini still allow quick email and Google signups without ID, while Claude now feels more restrictive. Users and media note this could drive people back to OpenAI/Google, especially after Claude’s recent growth surge. Heavy criticism over sharing sensitive data with third-party Persona.
Users worry about data risks, government ties, and erosion of Anthropic’s privacy-friendly image. Some call it the start of broader AI KYC. Not universal yet—triggers for new accounts, subscriptions, high-usage, or flagged activity. Helps Anthropic enforce 18+ policy and reduce fake and banned accounts, but causes false positives and lockouts for legitimate users.
First major consumer AI chatbot to implement this level of verification. Aims to curb misuse and prepare for regulations, but risks slowing casual adoption and pushing privacy-conscious users toward open-source and local alternatives. Short-term negative sentiment dominates public reaction, potentially slowing Claude’s momentum despite its prior gains in users and app rankings. Long-term depends on how selectively Anthropic applies it and whether competitors follow.